Being the mayor of a town comes with some pretty sweet perks. An elected mayor gets their own office, a reserved parking spot at City Hall, a custom deskplate, and the opportunity to set a budget for the town they govern.
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For one elected official in Miami, he may have tried to stretch his power a step too far.
Bodycam footage recently released shows Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo getting pulled over by Miami Police on June 14 after making an improper left turn. During the traffic stop, the conversation between Calvo and the officer revealed a much larger offense than the improper left turn.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Miami police noticed that the mayor had installed police lights on his car and began questioning the politician about the illegal setup.
"Is this a police car? Is this your personal?" the officer is heard asking Calvo in the bodycam footage.
"I'm an elected official," Calvo responds.
Disinterested in Calvo's political status, the officer reprimanded him about the illegal police lights on his car.
"You turn on your police lights," he says. "That's a criminal offense. I can easily take you to jail. So I don't care if you're the mayor. If I stop you and you're not a police officer, you need to stop. Not activate police lights."
The responding officer issued two tickets to Calvo for an improper left turn and prohibited lights on his vehicle.
"You're in possession of a police officer vehicle. But you are not a police officer. That right there could be a third-degree felony," the officer says.
Calvo has since pleaded not guilty to both citations.
Former California Mayor Arrested For Sexual Misconduct
Calvo was not the only mayor to land in hot water this month.
A former mayor of a Northern California city has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor foreign exchange student who had been assigned to his home, police said.
Robert "Brian" Bassett, 58, was arrested July 9. He was booked into the Butte County Jail on multiple felony sexual assault charges, Gridley police said.
Police said an investigation began after the department received information alleging that a victim was repeatedly sexually abused while under the care of a host family.
"The allegations in this case involve a profound betrayal by an individual who was entrusted with the care and well-being of a young individual living thousands of miles away from their family," the Gridley Police Department said in a news release. "Investigators conducted a thorough and professional investigation. We remain committed to seeking justice for victims of sexual assault regardless of the status or position of a perpetrator."
Bassett served as mayor of Biggs in 2023 and was also a city councilmember. He resigned from the council in 2025.
The investigation remains active.
