Watch: Monroe County DA apologizes for traffic ticket tirade
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) - Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley released a video statement Monday morning in response to the viral video of her arguing with a Webster Police Officer who tried to pull her over for speeding.
In a video statement posted Monday morning, Doorley apologized to the community, saying she did not treat the officer with respect. She explains she dealt with three homicides that occurred including an incident where a cab driver was killed, and was dealing with a medical condition her husband received.
"But we all have bad days and stress and it was wrong for me to take it out on an officer who was just doing his job," Doorley said in the video. "While I previously apologized to him, I will say it again, I'm sorry. Police already have a tough job and that day, I made this officer's job harder."
Doorley says she will willingly pay the fine on the speeding ticket. She will refer the matter to a district attorney for another county for review and self-report the incident to the grievance committee. She adds she will cooperate with the investigations.
"If one of my assistant district attorneys had acted this way, I would've disciplined them. So I'm disciplining myself," Doorley said in the video. "I will take ethics training to remind myself that professionalism matters. I've been humbled by my own stupidity and I am fully to blame."
News of the incident broke Thursday afternoon, when Doorley issued a written statement to the media admitting that she received a traffic ticket for going 55 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone and that she already pleaded guilty and sent the ticket to Webster Town Court.
"I believe in accepting responsibility for my actions and had no intention of using my position to receive a benefit. Nobody, including your District Attorney, is above the rule of law, even traffic laws," Thursday's emailed statement went on to state.
Those words seemed to be in direct contradiction her actions captured on the body worn camera video released on Friday. Doorley could be heard and seen arguing with officer, refusing his commands, while on the phone repeatedly the Webster Police Chief. This after she didn't pull over when the Webster officer originally activated his lights and sirens, continuing another half-mile until she pulled into her garage.
Video of the confrontation has been featured on media across the nation and sparked calls for everything from a full investigation to her resignation.
News 8 has put in a number of requests to speak with Doorley directly and will be attempting to get her on camera at her office.
Full Statement from the Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley:
You can watch the full video statement from Sandra Doorley in the player above.