Soares right to recuse office from shootings
Although Albany County District Attorney David Soares could appear to be dodging his responsibility to investigate incidents involving local law enforcement like the shooting of Jordan Young, there is good reason for depending on a special prosecutor to carry out such investigations.
The DA's office must work with local police on a daily basis and depends on a close working relationship with them in order to carry out its work effectively. These police shooting cases inherently involve a conflict of interest.
When the DA must determine whether a police officer has committed a crime, the DA clearly weighs the community's interest in justice against potentially alienating the very people whose cooperation his office depends on all the time. A special prosecutor in these cases eliminates that conflict.
Dennis Silber
Albany