New York Governor Kathy Hochul has taken action by requesting a state commission to launch an investigation into an upstate prosecutor. This prosecutor was captured on video engaging in a confrontation with a local police officer who had pulled her over for exceeding the speed limit.
Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley did not comply when a police officer attempted to pull her over last Monday after allegedly recording her traveling at 55 mph in a 35-mph zone. Police body-cam footage, which was released over the weekend, captured Doorley engaging in a heated argument with the officer. She even went as far as calling the chief to complain about the “a–hole officer” who had attempted to stop her for speeding.
In the bodycam footage, the woman confidently asserts her authority as the District Attorney of Monroe County. She dismisses any concern about her driving speed, stating, “Do you think I really care if I was going 20 miles over the speed limit?”
After the body cam footage made headlines, Hochul took action and announced on Sunday that she is referring the incident to the New York Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct. This commission is responsible for examining complaints lodged against district attorneys.
According to Hochul, the police body cam footage reveals Doorley’s attempt to leverage her position in order to avoid accountability, as well as her unprofessional behavior towards a police officer who was simply performing his duties.
According to Hochul’s statement, the district attorney’s actions went against her responsibility and had a negative impact on her ability to enforce the law and hold others accountable.
In a statement released on Thursday, Doorley acknowledged that she had been speeding and took full responsibility for her actions. She emphasized that she had no intention of leveraging her position to gain any benefits.
In a statement, she made it clear that no one, not even the District Attorney, is exempt from following traffic laws. She emphasized that her entire 33-year career has been dedicated to the safety of the community. Throughout her work, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to ensuring the safety and respect of law enforcement.
In a separate video apology, Doorley attributed her outburst, caught on camera, to the stress she was experiencing from work and family. She acknowledged that she did not treat the police officer with the respect he deserved.
“I deeply regret my actions and the way I treated the officer. It was unfair of me to vent my frustrations on someone who was simply carrying out their duties,” she expressed. “Although I have already apologized directly to the officer, I want to reiterate my sincere apology. Law enforcement officers already face numerous challenges, and on that particular day, I contributed to making his job even more difficult.”