IMPD deputy chief cleared in Bisard evidence mishandling

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - IMPD’s deputy chief who was suspended last month after revelations that a blood sample in the David Bisard case had been mishandled has been cleared of wrongdoing, IMPD confirmed Tuesday evening.

Deputy Chief Valerie Cunningham has returned to work at Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department after being cleared, sources told 24-Hour News 8 on Tuesday afternoon, and IMPD confirmed in a news release Tuesday evening.

IMPD said Cunningham would assume responsibilities as deputy chief of the Administration Division, responsible for support services. She would be charged with enhancing communication between IMPD and Indianapolis human resources, IMPD said, along with internal communication between IMPD divisions.

She and a detective were placed on administrative leave, fallout from the latest foul-up in the case of Bisard, the embattled IMPD officer who struck a group of motorcyclists, killing one and injuring others, in August 2010. In mid-April, after a judge cleared the way for more testing of blood samples taken the day of the crash, it was revealed that the blood samples had been removed from cold storage.

The FBI was to work with the Professional Standards Division of the city Public Safety Department to “uncover the truth,” Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said April 17.

That investigation is ongoing, and only Cunningham has been cleared at this time.