Monroe County's district attorney is adding her voice to the criticism of Governor Cuomo's newly appointed special prosecutor to investigate the deaths of unarmed civilians at the hands of police.
Sandra Doorley says she understands why the public has questions and concerns when a grand jury fails to indict a police officer who fatally shoots an unarmed civilian.
That's why Doorley believes there needs to be more transparency in the grand jury process. She says the appointment of a special prosecutor to handle such cases is unwarranted.
"We feel that it's a continuation of a false narrative. It says that we're not doing our job as district attorneys. The executive order gives us no guidance, and we're frustrated."
Doorley said the attorney general and the governor's chief council could not answer the questions posed by district attorneys around the state at a recent conference of the New York State District Attorneys Association. She said the governor's executive order is unclear and ambiguous and has prosecutors wondering what will happen if a police-related civilian shooting occurs in their community.
Governor Cuomo said the perceived conflict of interest of local DAs prosecuting members of law enforcement is a problem. Police and district attorneys work closely together.
But Doorley rejects the notion of a conflict of interest.
"This office in particular, we have prosecuted police officers who have violated the law, but it is our constitutional obligation to follow the law. If a police officer is, in fact, justified in using deadly physical force under the law, then we must act accordingly."
