Monroe County DA apologizes for behavior documented in viral video

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Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley has issued a video apology for her behavior during a traffic stop on April 22.

The incident was recorded on a camera worn by a Webster Police officer. The 26-minute video has gone viral on social media and has attracted the attention of national and international news media.

In a one-minute, 45-second recording sent to the news media at 6:01 Monday morning, Doorley said she plans to ask a district attorney in a different county to investigate the matter while she also will “self-report” the matter to the Fourth Department Attorney Grievance Committee.

On Thursday morning, Doorley emailed a statement to the news media stating that, on April 22, as she drove home from work to her house in Webster, she failed to pull over when a Webster Police officer attempted to make a traffic stop because she was driving 55 miles per hour in a 35-mph zone on Phillips Road.

Instead, Doorey drove to her house where she parked in the garage.

“I noticed a Webster Police car behind me. Once I realized that the intention of the car was to pull me over, I called the Webster Police chief to inform him that I was not a threat and that I would speak to the officer at my house down the street,” she wrote in the statement.

“I acknowledged that I was speeding, and I accepted the ticket. By 1 p.m. the following day, I pled guilty and sent the ticket to the Webster Town Court because I believe in accepting responsibility for my actions and had no intention of using my position to receive a benefit,” she wrote.

On Friday, Doorley refused to answer any follow-up questions about the incident.

Subsequently, the Webster Police released a 26-minute video of the incident, and it eventually went viral because it showed Doorley acting uncooperative, entitled, and disrespectful to the officer involved.

In the police video, in the driveway of her home, Doorley tells the officer she didn’t notice his emergency lights or siren behind her because she was talking on her phone, using a hands-free device.

Then Doorley calls Webster Police Chief Dennis J. Kohlmeier and asks Kohlmeier to tell the officer to “leave me alone.”

She hands the phone to the officer to talk to the chief and says: “This is ridiculous.”

Doorley repeatedly ignores the officer’s instruction to stay at the back of her car and provide her driving license.

When the officer tells Doorley he’s making a legal traffic stop she replies: “I understand the law better than you.”

While they stood in her garage, she tells the officer: “Get out of my f— house.”

“I’m not dealing with you right now,” she says to the officer.

When the officer asks her to go to the rear of the car, she replies: “I’m not going to.”

And she emphasized, “I am the DA.”

When the officer asks Doorley why she is being so uncooperative, she says: “You are being an a– h—.”

Doorley told the officer that, as she drove home with the officer behind her with his emergency lights and siren on, she called Kohlmeier asking why she was being pulled over.

“Do you think I really care if I was going 20 miles over the speed limit,” she tells the officer.

“I thought no one would ever pull over a black SUV if you ran my plates,” she tells the officer.

The officer’s supervisor comes to Doorley’s house, and she was eventually given a speeding ticket.

After the police video came out on Friday, there was a widespread call for a further investigation and severe consequences for Doorley.

Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart issued a statement saying she is “shocked and disappointed” with Doorley’s conduct.

“This incident is not just about a speeding ticket. It’s about abuse of power and double standards, particularly for Black and Brown motorists,” Barnhart wrote.

“Doorley should face cameras, take hard questions, apologize, and address the deep inequities in our criminal justice system,” Barnhart wrote.

The Democratic caucus of the Monroe County Legislature issued a statement saying the members are “extremely troubled by the video.”

“Her actions were unacceptable. Public officials are not above the law; they serve the people and must be held responsible for their actions like everyone else,” they wrote.

“We support any further appropriate investigation into this encounter by law enforcement officials,” they wrote.

State Assembly members Sarah Clark, Harry Bronson, Jen Lunsford, and Demond Meeks, and state Senator Samra Brouk issued a statement calling the video “disturbing.”

Doorley’s behavior “is completely unethical and there must be consequences,” they wrote.

“Beyond the unacceptable behavior toward the officer and the abuse of power by acting above the law, our top prosecutor has a responsibility to set an example for our community,” they wrote.

“Doorley must be held accountable and all options to investigate the situation must be pursued including violations of public officers laws, professional legal ethics, as well as removal from office need to be considered,” They wrote.

“Even if she steps down, it should be investigated and ethical charges should be brought,” they wrote.

In the video statement she sent Monday, Doorley said she “fell short of the values I’ve held for my entire 33-year career.”

“I didn’t treat this officer with a respect he deserved … I am truly and sincerely sorry,” she said.

Doorley said she was stressed from “dealing with three homicides that occurred over the weekend.”

“I watched a video where an innocent cab driver was executed. I was still reeling from a frightening medical concern that my husband received that afternoon,” she said.

“But we all have bad days and stress. And it was wrong for me to take it out on an officer who was simply doing his job,” she said.

“While I previously apologized to him, I will say it again. I’m sorry,” she said.

In addition to referring the matter to a DA in another county, and sending the matter to the Grievance Committee, Doorley said she will “take ethics training to remind myself that professionalism matters.”

“I have been humbled by my own stupidity. And I am fully to blame. I will make this right. I ask for your forgiveness,” she said.

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