TAMPA, Fla. — Mary O’Connor was sworn in Friday as Chief of Police of the Tampa Police Department.

 The ceremony took place at the Julian B. Lane River Center.

O’Connor, 51, served the Tampa Police Department for 22 years, rising to the rank of assistant chief before retiring in 2016.

Since then, O’Connor has spent time extensively traveling the country, teaching and providing subject matter expertise and training to law enforcement and criminal justice executives. She’s also served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

While at TPD, Mary O’Connor worked closely with a Tampa Police Chaplain to implement a post-trauma training and retreat program to assist Tampa and other local police officers cope with symptoms of stress and strain associated with first responder careers.

She was also instrumental in opening an after-school program, The RICH House, Resources in Community Hope, which served hundreds of children and helped connect adults with social services.  

Mayor Jane Castor chose O’Connor for the post in February, citing O’Connor’s experience and leadership within the police department.

O’Connor’s appointment had been met with some pushback as she was arrested in 1995 and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer.

The Tampa City Council voted 4-2 to confirm O’Connor as the new chief March 17.

She is the department’s 43rd police chief.