Police Union Punishes DA's Office for Not Illegally Charging Woman Who Recorded Cops

by Radley Balko
The Agitator
Oct. 23, 2011

You may remember Emily Good, the Rochester woman arrested earlier this year for videotaping a traffic stop from her front yard.

When last we visited the story, Good’s neighbors had held a rally for her. Then Rochester police showed up at that rally, and began writing tickets for those attendees who parked more than 12 inches from the curb. The cops even brought rulers.

Monroe County District Attorney Michael Green declined to charge Good, because, well, because she didn’t break any law. This has apparently invoked the wrath of the police union. Green isn’t running for reelection, but one of his lieutenants running for the job. The police union has endorsed her opponent, and the Good case appears to be a big reason why.

Doorley said she thinks her prosecution of corruption within the Greece Police Department and the decision not to prosecute Emily Good, who was arrested while video recording a police traffic stop, thwarted her chances for law enforcement support.

She said during her endorsement interview that she was questioned at length about the DA's decision that Good had not committed a crime.

Good was charged with interfering with a police stop -- the arresting officer contended she was endangering police -- but the District Attorney's Office decided the charge should be dismissed.

Doorley, who was then first assistant district attorney, appeared in court to request dismissal of the charge. Prosecutors determined that, under the statute, Good had not committed a crime.

A number of prosecutors scrutinized past cases involving the same criminal statute and determined the criminal charge was "not sustainable," Doorley said.

Imagine the union’s reaction if the DA’s office had done what it should have done--criminally charge the cops who arrested Good for illegally detaining her.

(Hat tip.)