Hochul Investigates Upstate DA for Speeding Ticket Evasion using Official Position

NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has announced that she is investigating an upstate district attorney accused of attempting to evade a speeding ticket using her official position. Sandra Doorley, Monroe County’s DA, refused to stop after exceeding the speed limit and engaged in a heated argument with police captured on bodycam footage released by Webster Police Department last week. The video revealed an unnerved encounter that escalated quickly; in one portion of the interaction, Doorley is seen swearing at the officer while referencing her position as DA: “Do you know what I’ve been dealing with all day? Three murders in the city… Do you think I really care if I was going 20 miles over the speed limit?” She also stated that she had driven at a high rate of speed coming from work before cursing at him and calling him an “a–hole officer.” During this exchange, Doorley contacted Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier to assure them that she posed no threat. When asked why she failed to stop, she replied: “I didn’t feel like stopping”. Following the release of the video footage, Governor Hochul criticized Doorley for her unprofessional behaviour towards police officers, as reported by The New York Post (1 May 2022). After being issued a traffic ticket on April 25th, she pleaded not guilty to the violation. Later that same day, she apologised to law enforcement officials and explained in an apology video: “Last Monday, I failed you and the standards that I hold myself to… What I did was wrong. No excuses. I take full responsibility for my actions”. Rochester City Council has sent a letter signed by all nine members addressed to New York State Attorney General Letitia James requesting an investigation into Doorley’s conduct (27 April 2022), according to WHEC-TV (1 May 2022).