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New York Post
Hochul refers upstate NY DA to commission that investigates prosecutor conduct following caught-on-camera outburst at cop
By David Propper,
16 days ago
The upstate New York district attorney who berated a cop after she was caught speeding was referred by Gov. Kathy Hochul to a state commission tasked with investigating prosecutors’ conduct on Sunday.
Hochul said she requested the Commission for Prosecutorial Conduct review the incident after bodycam footage on Friday showed Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley ignoring a Webster, New York, cop who tried to pull her over and instead continuing to drive until she reached her house.
Doorley called the officer, who had pursued her to her home, an “a–hole” and dialed the local police chief to complain after they stepped out of their respective vehicles at her address, the footage shows.
The interaction occurred on Monday and ended with Doorley getting a speeding ticket. She pleaded guilty to the traffic infraction a day later before the damning footage came to light.
Hochul called Doorley’s behavior unprofessional and accused her of trying to claim she was above the law.
“ District Attorneys are responsible for prosecuting criminal and traffic offenses, and must perform their duties with the highest ethical standards,” the governor said in a statement to The Post.
“Earlier today, I referred the Monroe County District Attorney to the Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct following the release of police bodycam footage showing her claiming she is above the law, attempting to use her public office to evade responsibility, and acting unprofessionally towards a police officer simply trying to do his job.
“We are deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who put on a uniform each day to protect the safety of all New Yorkers.”
The commission, made up of 10 members, was created in 2021 to act as an independent entity that probes conduct in district attorneys’ offices and strengthens oversight for prosecutors to ensure they are held to high ethical standards.
The commission has the authority to review and investigate prosecutors’ conduct to determine if their actions violate state laws or court rules, according to its website.
Doorley, ironically, lobbied against the legislation that established the commission when she served as president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York in 2021, according to NY1 .
The bodycam video, obtained by location outlets, shows the district attorney admitting she was driving 55 miles per hour in a 35-mph zone on her way home. She also dropped the fact she was the district attorney in Monroe multiple times.
“Why are you so upset at me?” the cop asked her in the clip. “I’m doing my job.”
Seconds later, she can be heard on the phone with Webster Chief of Police Dennis Kohlmeier and asks him, “Can you please tell them to leave me alone?”
The district attorney also ignored and rudely dismissed the officer’s repeated commands, the footage shows.
“You know what I’ve been dealing with all day? Three murders in the city,” she said at one point. “And do you think I really care if I was going 20 miles over the speed limit?”
Doorley also encouraged the officer to write the ticket because she said her office would be prosecuting it.
Since Friday’s fallout over the video, the Rochester City Council has sent a letter to Attorney General Letitia James asking her to investigate the incident.
After the footage surfaced, the prosecutor said in a statement, “Nobody, including your District Attorney, is above the rule of law, even traffic laws.”
For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/
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