The latest mistake happened in November, when prosecutors say a vial of blood belonging to Bisard was taken from the main police property room, where the sample was refrigerated, to the annex, where it was not. Prosecutors had hoped to use the blood to show Bisard was drunk when he plowed his squad car into two motorcycles stopped at a red light in August 2010, killing 30-year-old Eric Wells and injuring two others.
Bisard’s case isn’t the only problem for the department. It had a string of issues when Mayor Greg Ballard in 2009 plucked Straub from a seven-year stint as police commissioner of White Plains, N.Y. In two years before Straub was hired, Indianapolis officers had been accused of trafficking drugs, arson, running a prostitution ring and taking bribes.
See the full article from “Broadcast Newsroom”
The latest mistake happened in November, when prosecutors say a vial of blood belonging to Bisard was taken from the main police property room, where the sample was refrigerated, to the annex, where it was not. Prosecutors had hoped to use the blood to show Bisard was drunk when he plowed his squad car into two motorcycles stopped at a red light in August 2010, killing 30-year-old Eric Wells and injuring two others.
Bisard’s attorney, John Kautzman, said Wednesday that the blood sample actually could have helped clear his client.
Bisard’s case isn’t the only problem for the department. It had a string of issues when Mayor Greg Ballard in 2009 plucked Straub from a seven-year stint as police commissioner of White Plains, N.Y. In two years before Straub was hired, Indianapolis officers had been accused of trafficking drugs, arson, running a prostitution ring and taking bribes.
See the full article from “KTAR.com”
The latest mistake happened in November, when prosecutors say a vial of blood belonging to Bisard was taken from the main police property room, where the sample was refrigerated, to the annex, where it was not. Prosecutors had hoped to use the blood to show Bisard was drunk when he plowed his squad car into two motorcycles stopped at a red light in August 2010, killing 30-year-old Eric Wells and injuring two others.
Bisard’s attorney, John Kautsman, said Wednesday that the blood sample actually could have helped clear his client.
Bisard’s case isn’t the only problem for the department. It had a string of issues when Mayor Greg Ballard in 2009 plucked Straub from a seven-year stint as police commissioner of White Plains, N.Y. In two years before Straub was hired, Indianapolis officers had been accused of trafficking drugs, arson, running a prostitution ring and taking bribes.
See the full article from “ABC News”
A judge ruled in May 2011 that blood-alcohol evidence could not be used to bring charges of drunken driving, but ruled later that it could be used to support a charge of criminal recklessness.
Last week, a Marion County judge ruled that prosecutors could test a second vial of Bisard’s blood drawn shortly after the crash, which is when the mishandling was discovered.
Straub said the overall culture of the department needs to change.
“This is just another unnecessary incident in this police department. We have to stop blowing ourselves up. We have to hold ourselves accountable as a police department,” Straub said. “We knew that officers were drinking on duty. We knew that officers were going to strip clubs ? but we didn’t hold them accountable. You don’t fix history in two weeks or two years.”
See the full article from “Officer.com”
Indianapolis police badly wound man after chase
Updated: Wednesday, 18 Apr 2012, 6:23 AM EDTPublished : Wednesday, 18 Apr 2012, 6:23 AM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indianapolis police said officers shot and critically wounded a man who fired several shots at them after he was thrown out of an Indianapolis strip club.
Officer Kendale Adams said no officers were wounded when the man shot at them when they spotted him walking along Washington Street on the city’s near-west side late Tuesday.
He said the officers chased the man for several blocks before he pointed the gun at them and officers shot him numerous times. Adams said the man was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police said confrontation began when officers were called to Patty’s Show Club on a report of the man being unruly and threatening to “shoot the place up.”
See the full article from “WANE”
Man Shot By Police After Strip Club Threat
Suspect Listed In Critical Condition
POSTED: 10:54 pm EDT April 17, 2012
UPDATED: 7:23 am EDT April 18, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS — Police shot and critically wounded a man who opened fire on officers on Indianapolis’ west side late Tuesday, investigators said.
Officers were called to Patty’s Show Club in the 2000 block of West Washington Street just after 10:30 p.m. after employees said an unruly customer threatened to come back and “shoot the place up,” police said.
Officers found the man walking in the 2400 block of West Washington Street, but when they tried to approach him, he fired several shots at them, police said.
“When the officers got out and tried to engage the suspect and find out what exactly his dealings were, he turned around, without provocation, and fired upon the officers,” said Indianapolis police spokesman Officer Kendale Adams.
See the full article from “WRTV Indianapolis”
… I don’t know how you can run an investigation when it’s going well, then hand it off when it’s not going well,” Owensby said.
Straub rejected such suggestions, saying problems with the department dating back half a century could not be fixed in a couple of years. He also said property room procedures have not been updated since 1980.
“This is 30 or 40 or 50 years of neglect and what I’ve heard from the management of the police department over and over and over again during the two years and four months that I’ve been here is that, ‘We knew this was going on, we just never bothered to fix it. We knew officers were drinking on duty. We knew that officers were going to strip clubs, but we didn’t take action. We didn’t hold ourselves or those officers accountable.’”
See the full article from “KIII TV3″
A judge ruled in May 2011 that blood-alcohol evidence could not be used to bring charges of drunken driving, but ruled later that it could be used to support a charge of criminal recklessness.
Last week, a Marion County judge ruled that prosecutors could test a second vial of Bisard’s blood drawn shortly after the crash, which is when the mishandling was discovered.
Straub said the overall culture of the department needs to change.
“This is just another unnecessary incident in this police department. We have to stop blowing ourselves up. We have to hold ourselves accountable as a police department,” Straub said. “We knew that officers were drinking on duty. We knew that officers were going to strip clubs ? but we didn’t hold them accountable. You don’t fix history in two weeks or two years.”
See the full article from “Officer.com”
Husband solicits men for wife; Lover kills ‘cheating’ wife…
Ajman Criminal Court found a husband guilty of soliciting men for his wife. The couple will be deported after serving six months in jail on charges of prostitution, reported ‘Emarat Al Youm’.
Upon receiving reliable information, Ajman Police raided their residence and arrested the duo. The wife was found in the bedroom with another man while her husband stood guard outside.
The husband admitted he charged Dh100 from men to be ‘entertained’ by his wife. He told investigating officials that he married the woman five months ago and had told her she would be a partner in the business of prostitution.
Meanwhile, the woman admitted that she willingly worked as a prostitute because she faced financial constraints and even distributed her phone number to lure customers.
See the full article from “Emirates 24/7″
Valerie Cunningham and a detective have both been placed on administrative leave as a result of the discovery of the mishandled evidence. Rick Hite has been appointed interim police chief while the investigation continues.
Strong reaction from mayor, director of public safety
Ballard said he is “angry and disgusted” and apologized to victims.
“At best, this matter shows gross incompetence,” Ballard said. “And at worst … possible criminal intent.”
Ballard said the news rocks the public’s confidence in the department.
“It’s going to take time (to restore confidence), no question,” Ballard said. “If I was looking from the outside, it doesn’t look very good.”
Straub stressed the importance of moving the department forward and not having continual issues.
“These types of incidences have to stop happening,” Straub said.
He said people have been aware of officers with drinking problems and going to strip clubs. Recent arrests resulted in some of those cases.
See the full article from “WTHI”