Watching to ensure Soares commits to recusal policy

Belated congratulation and appreciation to Albany County District Attorney David Soares for adopting a policy of recusing his office from investigating cases involving law enforcement, as reported in the article “Policy change nixes probe; Soares will not investigate case of Jordan Young who was shot by police Jan. 24,” Feb. 5.

This relatively new policy is a good step toward building trust between the DA’s Office and the community if implemented in good faith.

If such a policy had existed in 2015 and 2018, the significant and divisive controversies after the death of Donald “Dontay” Ivy, who died after Albany police used a Taser on him, and the shooting of Ellazar Williams, who remains paralyzed after being shot by Albany police, may not have occurred.

As a past critic of Soares regarding those cases, I commend him for establishing this policy. Hopefully, this will further improve the relationship of his office with detractors in the Capital Region.

I am certain several Albany citizens will watch carefully to determine if this new policy is used appropriately and encourage Robert Gavin and the Times Union to continue reporting on this issue.

Roger Benson

Colonie