Gov. Hochul refers Monroe County DA to Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Governor Hochul released a statement in response to body-cam footage of Monroe County DA Sandra Doorley during a traffic stop.

Hochul announced she referred Doorley to the New York State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct, saying the district attorney undermined her ability to hold others accountable for their actions.

The Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct is a committee that strengthens the oversight of the state’s prosecutors and holds them to high ethical standards. This is done through investigations, hearings, and testimonies.

In a statement, Governor Hochul said:

“District Attorneys are responsible for prosecuting criminal and traffic offenses, and must perform their duties with the highest ethical standards. 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. In doing so, she was acting in contravention of her responsibility as a District Attorney and undermined her ability to hold others accountable for violating the law. 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 Chair of the Commission, Michael Simons, provided the following statement:

We are aware of the Governor’s public statements regarding her referral of the Monroe County District Attorney to the Commission. The Commission cannot comment on any particular case or matter before it. The New York State Judiciary Law, which sets the parameters for the Commission’s work, requires that all complaints, correspondence, proceedings, data, and records of the Commission be confidential. Under the law, the Commission’s work may be disclosed publicly only at the conclusion of a proceeding when the Commission makes formal findings and recommendations.

The Governor’s statement was released a day before Doorley released a video apologizing for arguing with the Webster police officer during a traffic stop. Body cam video showed Doorley not pulling over during the stop until she got home and refused to cooperate with the officer’s commands.

Doorley said in her apology that it was wrong of her to treat the officer that way and will take steps to discipline herself — including referring the matter to a district attorney in another county and self-reporting to the grievance committee.

New York assemblymembers and lawmakers are c alling for an investigation into the incident, saying public officials need to hold themselves to a higher standard.

Watch the body camera video

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