DA Sandra Doorley's profane chastisement of officer was indefensible, report says

Monroe County's Office of Public Integrity determined that District Attorney Sandra Doorley's profane chastisement of a Webster police officer was indefensible and could encourage others to disobey directions from police.

The review of Doorley's April interaction with Webster Police Officer Cameron Crisafulli determined that Doorley breached several of the county's ethic standards. Crisafulli was attempting to pull Doorley over for speeding when she continued to her nearby home, then angrily reproached the officer. She did agree to the ticket, then paid it.

The incident is being investigated by the newly created state Office of Prosecutorial Conduct, which investigates allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. In its report, the county's Office of Public Integrity, or OPI, notes that it will cooperate with the state and its investigation.

Representatives from Doorley's office declined comment Monday.

The report, released Monday, notes that:

• One Webster police official believed that there was enough proof that Doorley had violated the law against impeding an investigation — the law is "obstructing governmental administration" — but the responding officer, in his discretion, chose not to apply the charge.
• There was no proof that Doorley was under the influence of any substance, nor did responding officers believe her to be. She has said she was not under the influence of anything, and was instead upset after a day in which she'd reviewed several murder files.
• One responding officer thought that Doorley was "pretentious" and "power tripping" in her agitation. Most officers who were interviewed said they had good relations with Doorley, though one recalled when Doorley once balked at signing a Covid protocol form required in the courts, then did so. Others in her group entering the court signed the form with no pushback.
• Doorley did text Crisafulli after the incident and apologized.

Doorley's interaction with Crisafulli was caught on his body-worn camera and the video went viral after its release. Doorley called Crisafulli an "a--hole" at one point and also is heard cursing at him at other points.

Doorley later apologized to the community in a letter, and also in an interview with WHEC-TV (Channel 10).

For Doorley, the most problematic issues with other investigations, particularly from the state, could be her statements that she will "prosecute" herself. Though Doorley obviously did not act on such a claim, this could be interpreted as attempts to sway the investigation and the officer's response.

Also Doorley did not publicly acknowledge the severely heated nature of the interaction in an interview or news release about her speeding before the release of the police video.

More: Two traffic stops, two outcomes: Comparing Doorley and Taylor incidents

Critics have also questioned whether a defendant who was not white would have received similar treatment.

In its report, the county's OPI determined that Doorley violated the ethics code with her behavior toward Crisafulli and her speeding. The OPI will pass on its findings to the county's ethics board, which has limited power with its response.

In its report, the OPI states that Doorley's "type of display could encourage the public to take the same liberties thereby endangering other law enforcement officers." It notes that she is the "top law enforcement in the County."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: DA Sandra Doorley's profane chastisement of officer was indefensible, report says