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Judge Orders Bisard Held Without Bond Until May 9 Hearing

Last updated on Wednesday, May 1, 2013

(INDIANAPOLIS) - Suspended Indianapolis Metro Police Officer David Bisard will be back in court Wednesday to face the new drunk driving charges against him.

WTHR reports that the Allen County judge hearing Bisard's upcoming criminal trial has ordered him held without bond until a bond revocation hearing is held next week in Fort Wayne.

For now, David Bisard shares a jail cell with former IMPD Officer David Butler. Keeping lawmen safe while they are locked up is a continuous challenge.

"Because of the nature of their work, they have made enemies in their past. I am sure they've made enemies of the people in here," explained Col. Gary Tingle, Marion County Sheriff's Department.

One or more jail officers escort Bisard whenever he leaves the cell, keeping him separated and protected from 1,000 other inmates.

"It requires a lot of work and a lot more manpower," Tingle said - and a lot more risk.

The suspended IMPD officer crashed a pickup truck Saturday. He's charged with driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol nearly three times the legal limit. Police found a bottle of vodka in Bisard's truck, which had struck a guardrail and knocked down a speed limit sign.

Every year in Marion County, hundreds of people are arrested and even convicted of drunk driving or other alcohol offences and don't do jail time. Bisard was already free on bond awaiting trial and charged with driving intoxicated and killing one man and injuring two others for an August 2010 crash.

Fearful of another incident, the Marion County prosecutor is trying to convince the courts to keep Bisard in jail. If courts disagree and release Bisard, he will have to use a take-home Breathalyzer. The Marion County Community Corrections agency uses them to monitor about 375 offenders.

"It's very simple, very accurate," said Elliot Payne, who helps run the program.

Every day, several times a day with little warning, offenders must check their breath. A built-in camera snaps a photo to verify their identity. Results are sent to the county's Community Corrections agency. A violation can result in arrest and incarceration.

Are these things keeping people sober?

"They are," answered Elliot. "You will hear stories of problems; people say that I've been sober because of the machine."

Offenders pay $12 a day to use the machine.

In the August 2010 case, botched procedures led to the DUI charges being thrown out, then reinstated, and problems with the storage of blood evidence - along with the handling of the case itself - led to an overhaul at IMPD. Eric Wells died in the 2010 crash and Kurt Weekly and Mary Mills had life-changing injuries. Bisard's trial for that crash is scheduled for October 2013.

After Saturday's crash, which did not involve any other vehicles, Lawrence Police say Bisard's face was red, his balance was unsteady and his movements were slow when they responded to the crash scene. The responding officer also noted Bisard's eyes were bloodshot and glassy.

Bisard reportedly begged the arresting officers to let him go, and if they did he promised never to drink alcohol again. He also said his life would be over if he went to prison.

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