Newly released body camera footage reveals that a top prosecutor in New York state refused to pull over for speeding and instead drove home and called the police chief to get out of it.
The interaction between Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley and Officer Cameron Crisafulli was made public on Friday. The video was obtained by local media outlet WXXI following an open records request.
Officer Crisafulli followed the district attorney to her residence after she failed to stop on Monday night. The officer activated his lights and sirens to pull her over on Philips Road, but she continued to drive roughly half a mile to her home.
“Sorry, I’m the DA. I was going 55 coming home from work,” she said in her initial interaction with the police officer from her garage.
The police officer stated that she was driving 20 mph over the 35 mph speed limit.
“I don’t really care,” she responded and described the situation as “ridiculous.” She also said that she had a bad day at work and was dealing with murders in the city all day. She added that she didn’t realize that she was the one being pulled over. The officer pointed out that he was driving his patrol car directly behind her vehicle.
The district attorney appeared frustrated and eventually called Dennis Kohlmeier, Webster’s chief of police, to explain the situation.
“Can you please tell him to leave me alone?” she asked the police chief. At one point, she handed her phone to the officer, the video shows. The police chief eventually instructed the officer to call a supervisor to the scene.
The footage also captured Ms. Doorley’s multiple attempts to go into her house against the officer’s orders. He asked her to step outside and stated that he was conducting a legal traffic stop, to which she responded that she “knows the law” better than him.
She also repeatedly reminded him of her position throughout their interaction.
“You say you’re a DA?” the officer asked.
“I am the D.A.,” she responded. “Let me get you my badge. I am the D.A. of Monroe County.”
Ms. Doorley eventually told him to just issue the traffic ticket.
“If you give me a traffic ticket, that’s fine. I’m the one that prosecutes it, OK? Just go ahead and do it. Go ahead. Go ahead.”
Several police officers eventually ended up at Ms. Doorley’s residence, including Lt. Jeff Webster, who asked the officer what he was going to do and stated that he would not interfere with his traffic stop.
Failing to stop is an arrestable offense, the officer told his supervisor. He said that he had been respectful while she continued to be aggressive. He added that he didn’t want to arrest a district attorney, but also said he wants to do his job.
Officer Crisafulli eventually issued the speeding ticket.
The district attorney later apologized for her rant, pleaded guilty in Webster Town court, and paid the fine.
“I believe in accepting responsibility for my actions and had no intention of using my position to receive a benefit,” she wrote in a statement to local media. “Nobody, including your District Attorney, is above the rule of law, even traffic laws. Anybody who knows me understands without a doubt that I have dedicated my entire 33 year career to the safety of this community.”
Ms. Doorley was first elected in 2011 and became the first female district attorney of Monroe County. She was reelected in 2015 and 2019 to her second and third four-year terms.
