District Attorney Thinks She is Above Law with Cops

Cop Watch

27 Apr 202416:19

Summary

TLDRIn a tense encounter, Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Dey is pulled over by Officer Christop Foy for speeding and failing to stop immediately. Despite her status as the DA, she insists on continuing to her home, leading to a standoff where she argues with the officer over her actions. She admits to driving 55 mph in a 35 mph zone and being on a hands-free phone call. Officer Foy calls for a supervisor due to her non-compliance, and Dey contacts her chief. Throughout the interaction, Dey expresses frustration and questions the officer's hostility, while Foy maintains the importance of following traffic laws and the protocol of a legal traffic stop. The situation is further complicated by Dey's belief that she understands the law better and her role in prosecuting such cases. Eventually, the officer issues her a speeding ticket, and the incident is captured on body camera footage, highlighting the conflict between law enforcement duties and personal conduct.

Takeaways

🚨 The district attorney of Monroe County, New York, was stopped for speeding and failed to stop initially, driving back to her house instead.
📱 The DA claimed to be on the phone using a hands-free device at the time of the traffic stop, which is against the law while driving.
🛑 The police officer, Officer Christop Foy, insisted on the legitimacy of the traffic stop and asked the DA to comply with his instructions.
🤔 The DA expressed confusion and hostility towards the officer, questioning why she was being stopped and showing a lack of understanding of the situation.
🛠️ The DA, Sandra Dey, identified herself as the district attorney and attempted to use her position to influence the outcome of the traffic stop.
🚔 Despite her position, the officer maintained that she was obligated to follow traffic laws like any other citizen and that her actions were subject to legal consequences.
🗣️ The DA tried to involve her colleague, Dennis, in the situation by calling him for support during the traffic stop.
🏠 The DA drove to her home and parked in her garage before engaging with the officer, which was against standard traffic stop procedures.
🚔 A supervisor, Sergeant Johnson, was called to the scene due to the DA's non-compliance and the officer's inability to resolve the situation.
🎟️ The DA was eventually issued a speeding ticket for driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit.
🤝 In the end, the officer apologized for the inconvenience and reiterated the importance of pulling over when signaled by law enforcement.

Q & A

What was the reason for the traffic stop?
-The traffic stop occurred because the district attorney, Sandra Dey, was caught speeding and failed to stop immediately when the police officer initiated the stop with lights and sirens.
Why did the district attorney initially refuse to stop?
-The district attorney claimed she did not hear the lights or sirens due to being on the phone and thought the officer was not stopping her.
What was the district attorney's response when asked for her ID?
-The district attorney was uncooperative and initially refused to provide her ID, instead suggesting the officer speak to someone named Dennis.
What was the district attorney's argument regarding her speed?
-She argued that she was driving 55 in a 35 mph zone and did not see any reason to stop, despite the officer's instructions.
Why did the district attorney call her chief?
-The district attorney called her chief to inform him of the situation and possibly to seek advice or support during the traffic stop.
What was the officer's response to the district attorney's claim of being on a hands-free phone?
-The officer pointed out that even if it was hands-free, she should not have been on the phone while driving, which is a violation of the law.
What was the district attorney's reaction to the officer's request to stay at the back of the vehicle?
-The district attorney refused to comply with the officer's request and instead wanted to go inside her house.
What was the reason the district attorney gave for not stopping at the initial location?
-She claimed that she was not sure if the officer was stopping her and decided to continue driving to her driveway instead.
What was the district attorney's role in relation to traffic violations?
-As the district attorney, she is responsible for prosecuting traffic violations, including speeding tickets.
What was the final outcome of the traffic stop?
-The officer decided to issue a speeding ticket to the district attorney, who accepted it with the understanding that she would handle the prosecution herself.
What was the officer's advice for drivers when they see emergency lights behind them?
-The officer advised that drivers should pull off to the side of the road when they see emergency lights behind them to avoid further complications.

Outlines

00:00

🚔 Confrontation with District Attorney over Speeding

In this paragraph, a tense interaction unfolds between a police officer and a District Attorney (DA), Sandra, from Monroe County, New York. The DA was caught speeding and did not initially stop for the police. Instead, she drove home and was confronted by the officer, Officer Christop Foy, who accuses her of not stopping despite his lights and sirens. The DA, claiming to be on a hands-free phone, argues back, asserting her position and asking the officer to call a certain Dennis. The situation escalates as the DA refuses to comply with the officer's instructions, leading to a request for a supervisor. The DA admits to speeding but shows frustration with the officer's approach, citing her own workload and the triviality of the offense.

05:02

📞 Phone Call and Continued Dispute

This paragraph continues the conversation between the DA and the police officer. The DA, who was on the phone with someone named Dennis, attempts to explain that she was trying to get home and was unaware that the police were following her. The officer insists that she should have stopped when he initiated the traffic stop and highlights that she was speeding. The DA, unapologetic, suggests that the officer just write her a ticket, but the officer wants to follow proper procedure. A supervisor, Sergeant Johnson, is called to the scene to mediate the situation. The officer reiterates the DA's disregard for the traffic stop and her decision to drive home instead of pulling over, which is a legal issue.

10:02

🤔 Officer's Dilemma on Handling the Stop

The third paragraph reveals the officer's internal conflict on how to proceed with the traffic stop involving the DA. The officer discusses the situation with a colleague, contemplating the DA's failure to stop and her decision to continue to her home. The officer is advised to issue a speeding ticket and move on, but he is also aware that her failure to stop is an arrestable offense. The officer expresses his reluctance to arrest the DA but also his commitment to performing his duties. The conversation includes a discussion about the officer's discretion and the potential consequences of not taking action.

15:03

🔍 Final Decision and Advice for Future

In the final paragraph, the officer decides to issue a speeding ticket to the DA, who insists on prosecuting herself. The officer apologizes for the inconvenience caused by the traffic stop and advises the DA to pull over when police lights and sirens are present in the future. The officer emphasizes the importance of safety and following traffic laws. The DA is reminded of the protocol for traffic stops, and the officer concludes the interaction by wishing her a good day and returning to his duties.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡District Attorney (DA)

A District Attorney is a public official who serves as the chief prosecutor for a local government area, typically a county. In the video, Sandra Dey is identified as the DA of Monroe County, and her position becomes a point of contention during the traffic stop as she asserts her authority and knowledge of the law.

💡Speeding

Speeding refers to the act of driving a vehicle at a speed greater than the speed limit set by law. In the context of the video, the DA is accused of speeding, specifically driving 55 in a 35 mph zone, which is the reason for the traffic stop.

💡Traffic Stop

A traffic stop is a police procedure where a vehicle is pulled over by law enforcement for an alleged violation of traffic laws. The video revolves around a traffic stop where the DA is the one being stopped and is reluctant to comply with the officer's instructions.

💡Compliance

Compliance means the act of conforming to a set of rules or instructions. The DA's lack of compliance with the officer's commands to stop at the scene and provide her identification is a central issue in the video.

💡Hostility

Hostility refers to an unfriendly or aggressive behavior. The officer mentions the DA's hostility towards him, which is evident in her refusal to cooperate and her attempts to use her position to avoid the consequences of the traffic stop.

💡Discretion

Discretion in a legal context refers to the officer's ability to make a judgment call on how to proceed with a situation. The officer discusses the use of his discretion in deciding whether to issue a ticket or take further action for the DA's speeding and failure to stop.

💡Prosection

Prosecution is the presentation of the case against an individual suspected of a crime by the government. As the DA, Sandra Dey is responsible for prosecuting traffic violations, which adds a layer of irony to her being on the receiving end of a traffic stop.

💡Emergency Lights

Emergency lights are visual indicators used by emergency vehicles, such as police cars, to signal their approach or to pull a vehicle over. In the video, the DA admits she did not stop when the officer's emergency lights were initiated.

💡Handsfree Phone Use

Handsfree phone use refers to the operation of a phone without holding it, often through a car's speakerphone or a Bluetooth device. The DA claims she was on a handsfree call, which is a legal gray area in many jurisdictions regarding distracted driving laws.

💡Supervisor

A supervisor is someone with authority who oversees the work of others. In the video, the officer requests a supervisor to come to the scene, indicating the situation has escalated beyond a routine traffic stop.

💡Contempt of Cop

Contempt of cop is a term used to describe a situation where a person shows disrespect or defiance towards a police officer. The DA's behavior throughout the video could be interpreted as contempt of cop, as she challenges the officer's authority and actions.

Highlights

District Attorney Sandra dly refuses to stop for police when caught speeding.

DA dly argues with police, asserting her position as the DA of Monroe County.

Officer Christop Foy stops DA dly for speeding and she fails to comply with his instructions.

DA dly admits to speeding and being on the phone during the traffic stop.

Officer Foy emphasizes the legal nature of the traffic stop and requests DA dly to stay at the scene.

DA dly expresses frustration and attempts to involve her colleague, Dennis col.

DA dly insists she understands the law better than the officer and argues about her speed.

Officer Foy mentions DA dly's failure to stop and her aggressive behavior towards him.

DA dly claims she was not aware she was being pulled over and questions the officer's actions.

Officer Foy explains that DA dly was supposed to stop when his lights were initiated.

DA dly argues that she was going home and had been dealing with three murders in the city.

Officer Foy calls for a supervisor to the scene due to DA dly's non-compliance.

DA dly continues to argue and refuses to present her ID or cooperate fully with the officer.

The situation escalates with multiple officers on the scene, discussing the appropriate course of action.

DA dly insists on her right to detain until the traffic stop is concluded, despite her non-compliance.

Officer Foy expresses his intention to issue a speeding ticket to DA dly.

DA dly acknowledges the speeding ticket and states she will handle it as she prosecutes it herself.

Officer Foy apologizes for the situation and advises DA dly on proper conduct during a traffic stop.