The entire Rochester City Council has penned a letter urging New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the actions of Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley during a combative traffic stop this week.
Newly released body camera footage shows Doorley refusing to pull over for a Webster police officer attempting to stop her for speeding on Monday evening. Rather than complying with the officer’s lights and sirens, she continued driving half a mile to her home before a tense confrontation unfolded.
In the videos, Sandra Doorley can be seen cursing at the officer, wandering in and out of her garage, and calling the Webster police chief to demand the officer “leave me alone.” She repeatedly questioned why she should have stopped, stating “I’m the DA of Monroe County.
The officer maintained Doorley’s position gave her no right to violate traffic laws. After a 26-minute standoff captured on camera, the latter ultimately accepted the speeding ticket.
The City Council members said Doorley’s “behavior exhibited during the traffic stop appears to violate standards” expected of her office. They expressed concern it “undermines the credibility and integrity of our justice system and erodes public trust.”
In their letter, the council stated “an investigation by your office is warranted” to determine if Doorley’s actions point to “broader issues that could impact the fair administration of justice in Monroe County.”
Sandra Doorley has acknowledged that there was friction during the incident but maintained she quickly pleaded guilty and paid the ticket, saying “Nobody, including your District Attorney, is above the rule of law.”
However, the bodycam videos have prompted the rare unified call for oversight from the City Council. They insist an independent probe is crucial to restoring faith in the legal process for all citizens.
