Surfside mayor, police chief say Gisele Bundchen's traffic stop could've been handled differently
SURFSIDE — A South Florida mayor and his police chief are addressing a traffic stop involving former supermodel Gisele Bundchen that's gained national attention.
Surfside's Mayor Charles Burkett and Police Chief Henry Doce say it could have been handled differently.
On bodycam video, a visibly upset Bundchen, ex-wife of Tom Brady, explained during the stop that she was trying to get away from a paparazzi that was stalking her.
The officer told Bundchen that he knew who she was but there was nothing he could do. He then suggested that she get in touch with Miami Beach police since that is where the paparazzi started following her. When he apologized, she broke down in tears.
"Why are you crying," he's heard asking her.
"I'm so tired," she replied through tears. "Everywhere I go I have these (expletive) guys after me, nothing protects me. I can't do nothing. I just want to live my life."
The officer has drawn criticism for how he responded to the visibly shaken model — and some of that criticism is coming from Burkett.
"While I know he's a good man, I was just disappointed," he told CBS News Miami's Chelsea Jones. "You don't tell a woman who's frightened and crying that there's nothing you can do to help her — and by the way — go talk to the city next door. No, [the police are] there to protect and serve our residents."
CBS News Miami was told that the officer, who has been on the force for decades, is not facing any disciplinary actions. However, Doce agrees with Burkett, saying it was a learning experience.
"I understand what the mayor is saying, but I also understand that was a fluid situation where the officer really wasn't understanding everything," he said. "I think we could have been much more empathetic at that moment."
Doce added that the officer did speak to the person Bundchen alleged was following her and told him to move on, and that having paparazzi is a new experience for the city of Surfside, so officers are being told to be more vigilant and speak with them.
Bundchen owns two homes in Miami Beach, an $11.5 million mansion and a $1.25 million cottage. She is often photographed out and about with her two kids and boyfriend Joaquim Valente.