Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley apologized after publicly releasing body cam footage of her unprofessional reaction during a speeding stop.
Monroe County residents were taken aback when footage emerged showing District Attorney Sandra Doorley in a less-than-flattering light during a traffic stop.
According to Breitbart News, Doorley was caught driving 20 miles over the designated speed limit and pulled over. The officer's body camera captured the incident, which recorded the speeding violation and Doorley's misconduct toward the officer.
In response to the footage, Doorley issued a public apology acknowledging her inappropriate behavior. Facing professional and personal stress, she admitted to disrespecting the officer, emphasizing that the stress of her job and personal issues played a role but didn't excuse her actions.
Sandra Doorley stated in her apology:
Last Monday I failed you and the standards that I hold myself to, and for that, I am so sorry. What I did was wrong, no excuses. I take full responsibility for my actions.
Doorley's apology followed the public's uneasy reception of the video, in which she was heard discussing her role as DA and showing her badge while interacting with the officer. Her tone and choice of language during the exchange drew particular criticism.
Doorley didn't just stop at a public apology, demonstrating her commitment to rectifying her mistake. She pleaded guilty to the speeding charge and agreed to pay the necessary fines. Furthermore, she announced plans to self-report to a grievance committee and undergo ethics training. These steps are part of her effort to restore public trust and hold herself accountable.
In her continued explanation of the stress factors involved, Doorley highlighted the extensive pressures of her role on that particular day, which included dealing with multiple homicides and personal medical news concerning her husband.
Here, she detailed the context of her stress on the day of the incident:
I didn’t treat this officer with the respect he deserved. All police officers deserve respect. I am truly and sincerely sorry. I had just come from work. I was dealing with three homicides that had occurred over the weekend. I watched a video where an innocent cab driver was executed, and I was still reeling from a frightening medical concern that my husband received that afternoon.
Doorley's actions have also prompted the Rochester City Council to request an investigation into her behavior, indicating a broader concern about the implications of such incidents on public trust in law enforcement officials.
The community's reaction has mixed disappointment and recognition of Doorley's swift response to admit her faults. Public officials are undoubtedly held to a higher standard, and the revelations from this incident confirm the intense scrutiny those in public office face.
Moving forward, Doorley has vowed to better represent the community that trusted her. Re-elected as District Attorney in 2019, her current term has been marked by high-profile cases and public interactions.
Sandra Doorley hopes to mend her relationship with the Monroe County community through her acceptance of responsibility and the measures she has promised to take. Such incidents serve as a sobering reminder of public officials' ongoing challenges and responsibilities. This situation particularly underscores the importance of maintaining composure and respect in all interactions — a lesson Doorley intends to relearn through ethics training.
