Webster Police Chief breaks his silence on Sandra Doorley incident. Here’s what he said

Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier spoke for the first time Thursday, standing behind his officer following last week’s traffic stop that also involved Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

Instead of stopping for a Webster police officer on Phillips Road in Webster last week, Doorley instead drove to her nearby home, ignored several of the officer’s requests for information, called the officer’s police chief, called the officer an “asshole,” claimed she would take the ticket and press charges herself, and generally behaved in a dismissive, belligerent and abusive manner toward the officer.

Body-worn camera footage of the April 22 encounter between Doorley and Webster police officer Cameron Crisafulli has gone viral. On Thursday, Kohlmeier released a statement—his first public words on the encounter:

“I am extremely proud of our police department for handling a dynamic event with such professionalism. Our body-worn camera policies are designed to provide transparency; in this situation, they attest to the integrity and character of our officers. I also want to publicly thank Officer Crisafulli for his dedication to his duty and the safety of our community.

Due to ongoing investigations, it is not possible to provide further comment.”

Doorley said last week she pleaded guilty to the traffic violation the day after the encounter. She has also apologized for her behavior – in a 30-second video she released to the public, in an interview with WHEC-TV (Channel 10) – the only local media interview she gave – and in a column she wrote that was published in the Democrat and Chronicle.

In an interview with the Democrat and Chronicle last week, a day before the police video was released, Doorley said she initially called the Webster police chief to warn him that she planned to pull into her driveway and she did not want the officer to think she was a threat.

The encounter has sparked a debate in the community about whether Doorley should resign from her post. Doorley said she has reported herself to a bar grievance committee that could pursue disciplinary action against her.

The Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office will also review the incident, as will the Monroe County Office of Public Integrity. Governor Kathy Hochul has also referred the incident to the state Commission on Prosecutor’s Conduct, which has not yet heard the case, in part because its legality is in question.

Doorley was first elected in 2011 and won re-election last year without opposition.

Doorley admitted she was driving 20 miles over the posted speed limit – she was traveling 55 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone.

This article originally appeared in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Webster police chief breaks his silence on Sandra Doorley incident