D.A. DOORLEY'S DEFENSE OF OFFICER HARTLEY:
In addition to a media statement released on Friday September 28, 2012 (attached) D.A. Doorley made a six-minute on-air call to WHAM1180-AM's Bob Lonsberry. Her office also issued an additional statement on October 8th in response to repeated 13WHAM News inquiries.
“The Office of the District Attorney considers this matter concluded, and would once again like to thank Officer Hartley for his continued service to the community," that most recent statement reads.
"I reviewed the file, I reviewed every piece of paperwork in the file and I strongly disagree with Judge Randall's decision," Doorley told WHAM1180's Bob Lonsberry. "I don't believe there was enough evidence that came out during the course of that hearing to come out and call Officer Hartley a liar."
"Was that evidence of people going into the house not convincing to you?" Lonsberry asked.
"Well exactly," D.A. Doorley responded. "Officer Hartley testified that he got the key, he opened up the front door he walked through, well the door of the porch, he had gone in to open up the interior door to clear the house. The alarm went off. Once he realized that no one was home the house was then secured, they went and they proceeded to get the warrant."
D.A. Doorley later elaborated by saying, "There was no door handle or door knob on that door and the officer testified, he opened the front door, walked onto the porch, knocked to say knock-announce. The door had opened, the alarm went off, he called inside to see if anyone was home. No one wasn't, he then left and went and secured a search warrant."
In addition, D.A. Doorley said, "My reading is that there were a lot of consistencies between, between all of the prosecution witnesses and the neighbor witnesses who testified on behalf of the defense."
As to the judge's decision, "I believe that the judge made a credibility decision not in our favor and yes I disagree with it."
Lastly stating on the air that, "I almost think it is reckless and irresponsible without support in the record to call this officer a liar."
D.A. Doorley’s Office October 8th statement addresses that comment in this way:
“As I stated during a recent interview, the media reports asserting that Officer Hartley lied were reckless and irresponsible. The fact that two people come to different conclusions from the same testimony and evidence is not unusual, but this hardly supports a finding that someone intentionally lied.”
It should also be noted that the Locust Club Police Union credits D.A. Doorley for her support but also for her personal involvement in an unrelated case presented before a judge earlier this month. In that case D.A. Doorley personally handled the suppression hearing where Officers Hartley and Osipovitch testified. The Locust Club states that the judge rendered a decision instantly in favor of the prosecution.
D.A. Doorley has declined repeated interview requests from 13WHAM News.
