Last week prosecutor’s dropped drunk driving charges against Indianapolis police officer David Bisard, because the officer’s blood test wasn’t properly obtained. Officer Bisard stands accused in the fatal crash that killed one and injured two other people, when his police cruiser crashed into two motorcycles stopped at a light.
The Marion County Prosecutor, Carl Brizzi, said the blood test, which showed the officer over two times the legal limit for alcohol, would be inadmissible in court because it wasn’t taken in a hospital by someone certified to do so. Instead, the officer was taken to a clinic where police officers are often taken when they become injured on the job and his blood was drawn by a lab technician. State law requires alcohol-blood test to be administered by someone certified to do so to be admissible in court.
Officers at the scene of the accident did not give Bisard a breath test or field sobriety test and his blood was not drawn until two hours after the accident. Bisard has been suspended from the force without pay and still faces other felony reckless homicide charges.
The case has made top headlines in Indianapolis and the public outcry at the “suspected favoritism” shown to the officer has been great. The FBI has been called to review the handling of the case. The officers at the scene maintain that they followed proper procedures and protocol and did not treat Bisard any differently than they would any other citizen. My question to you this week is, “What do you think of the case? Do you think the officer was given “special” treatment, or do police just get a bad rap? Were the officers responding to the scene doing their job, or protecting one of their own?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, August 31st, 2010. On a side note, I am really happy with last week's blog discussion and as a whole, your class has done a great job with the blog!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
All You Need is Love?
Recently I was asked to post something regarding same sex marriage. Since we have discussed same sex marriage in class when we covered the Full Faith and Credit Clause, I decided to re-post something I have blogged about before that directly relates to same sex marriage. On a side note, I saw yesterday that Neil Patrick Harris, formerly known as "Doogie Howser", is expecting twins with his partner this fall. The news caused a little firestorm of controversy, so this blog should fit right in!
Efforts to ban gay and lesbian couples from adoption are heating up all across America. Florida has banned same sex adoptions since 1977. In Mississippi, gay singles can adopt but gay couples can not. In Utah, all un-married couples are banned from adoption. Currently, sixteen additional states are considering bans of same sex adoptions, including Indiana.
Opponents of same sex adoptions, often say that children being raised with same-sex parents will have psychological issues, be bullied or teased at school, have unclear gender role models and perhaps even become gay or lesbian themselves.
Supporters of same sex adoptions include the National Adoption Center, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Pediatrics, all of which state that adoptions by gay or lesbian couples do not negatively affect children.
The issue of same sex adoption is one that inspires debate across America and will probably be left up to the courts to decide, however one thing is clear: we all want what is best for our children. So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of same sex adoptions? Why do you feel the way you do?” Answers are due by Tuesday, August 24th.
Efforts to ban gay and lesbian couples from adoption are heating up all across America. Florida has banned same sex adoptions since 1977. In Mississippi, gay singles can adopt but gay couples can not. In Utah, all un-married couples are banned from adoption. Currently, sixteen additional states are considering bans of same sex adoptions, including Indiana.
Opponents of same sex adoptions, often say that children being raised with same-sex parents will have psychological issues, be bullied or teased at school, have unclear gender role models and perhaps even become gay or lesbian themselves.
Supporters of same sex adoptions include the National Adoption Center, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Pediatrics, all of which state that adoptions by gay or lesbian couples do not negatively affect children.
The issue of same sex adoption is one that inspires debate across America and will probably be left up to the courts to decide, however one thing is clear: we all want what is best for our children. So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of same sex adoptions? Why do you feel the way you do?” Answers are due by Tuesday, August 24th.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Next Great Indy Artist
Do you know what an impact your creativity could have on your community? Most of you heard the story last week of how my car was broken into. I planned to blog this week about what seems to be a rise in crime in Indianapolis. As I was doing my research, I found one crime prevention method that seems to be working in several cities around the country: public art.
My first thought was of the electronic dancing people I’ve seen downtown. My second thought was, “How does public art relate to crime prevention”? Further research revealed what I should’ve already known. Public art gives young people something to do other than hang out in the streets. It can make neighborhoods nicer, increase property values, and attract new business, which brings new jobs. People that live in nice neighborhoods, are employed, and have enough money to raise a family are far less likely to commit crimes.
According to the Arts Council of Indianapolis, public art can take a variety of forms. Historically, art that is accessible to the public has been in the form of freestanding pieces of work or objects that occupy a public space, such as sculptures and memorials. Now, in a growing number of cities functional objects such as benches, trails, bridges and manhole covers can become commissioned works by artists.
Now those of you who know me, know that I am a big believer in giving back. Whether it’s volunteering someplace, helping someone in need, or contributing something to the community, my motto has always been to try and leave the world better than I found it. So in that same spirit, my question to you this week is “What kind of public art would you create in Indianapolis if money was no object? Where would it be located and what would its message be?" Think about it! Answers are due no later than Tuesday, August 17th, 2010.
My first thought was of the electronic dancing people I’ve seen downtown. My second thought was, “How does public art relate to crime prevention”? Further research revealed what I should’ve already known. Public art gives young people something to do other than hang out in the streets. It can make neighborhoods nicer, increase property values, and attract new business, which brings new jobs. People that live in nice neighborhoods, are employed, and have enough money to raise a family are far less likely to commit crimes.
According to the Arts Council of Indianapolis, public art can take a variety of forms. Historically, art that is accessible to the public has been in the form of freestanding pieces of work or objects that occupy a public space, such as sculptures and memorials. Now, in a growing number of cities functional objects such as benches, trails, bridges and manhole covers can become commissioned works by artists.
Now those of you who know me, know that I am a big believer in giving back. Whether it’s volunteering someplace, helping someone in need, or contributing something to the community, my motto has always been to try and leave the world better than I found it. So in that same spirit, my question to you this week is “What kind of public art would you create in Indianapolis if money was no object? Where would it be located and what would its message be?" Think about it! Answers are due no later than Tuesday, August 17th, 2010.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
We the Jury...
As I mentioned in class a few weeks ago, I received a jury summons for later this month. Now most people hate when they get the dreaded jury summons in the mail, but I am one of the few people who LOVE jury duty. Doing my civic duty, participating in our judicial process and getting a “free” day off of work, what could be better than that? If I could, I would give up both of my jobs and become a professional juror. Yes, I know, I am a weird political nerd!
Last time I served on a jury was several years ago. I seemed to be the only one on the jury that was excited to be there. Everyone else complained, whined and used every excuse in the book to try and get out of serving, and yes, they all thought I was a weird political nerd too.
With my impending service coming up, it got me thinking about why Americans are so apathetic when it comes to jury service. So my question to you this week is, “Why do you think most Americans don’t want to participate in jury duty? Be honest – would you try and get out of it if you were called? Why or why not?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, August 10th, 2010.
Last time I served on a jury was several years ago. I seemed to be the only one on the jury that was excited to be there. Everyone else complained, whined and used every excuse in the book to try and get out of serving, and yes, they all thought I was a weird political nerd too.
With my impending service coming up, it got me thinking about why Americans are so apathetic when it comes to jury service. So my question to you this week is, “Why do you think most Americans don’t want to participate in jury duty? Be honest – would you try and get out of it if you were called? Why or why not?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, August 10th, 2010.
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