Syracuse, NY -- A suspended Syracuse police officer, accused of violating a court order to stay away from his girlfriend, was granted bail today over a prosecutor’s request for no bail.

Ahmad Mims, 34, is facing a felony for disobeying judge’s orders following numerous incidents, one in which Mims is accused of holding a gun to his girlfriend’s head.

Mims was already facing misdemeanors in Cicero and Lake George for alleged domestic abuse in September. That’s when he was ordered to stay away from his girlfriend.

He was suspended from the police department, but remains on paid leave as the cases progress. He made $106,710 last year.

But on Tuesday, Mims was arrested again for criminal contempt (violating the judge’s order) and unlawful imprisonment (a new allegation). The arrest arises from a Dec. 2 incident in which Mims physically restrained his girlfriend, violating the order to stay away from her, according to court paperwork.

His lawyer, Eric Jeschke, said Mims had checked himself in last Friday night to St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), but was released the following morning after his medications were adjusted.

By that point, troopers were already investigating him for the Dec. 2 incident. And on Tuesday, they arrested Mims. He was ordered held with no bail. That brought us to today’s bail argument.

Jeschke asked for $1,500 cash or bond.

County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller appeared surprised when prosecutor Jeremy Cali asked for no bail.

Cali said his concern was that Mims was a threat to himself and to the victim in the case.

He noted a photo in which Mims was pointing a gun into his own mouth.

Jeschke said Mims has surrendered all of his guns, including his service weapon.

Mims had been in an inpatient treatment center, Tully Hill, for psychiatric problems following his September arrest, lawyers said today. He continued to see Tully Hill counselors four times a week after his release.

But none of that had helped Mims follow the judge’s order to stay away from his girlfriend, Cali said.

“I think everyone was encouraged by treatment at Tully Hill and post-treatment after that, but Mr. Mims began to reengage the victim,” Cali said. “He was ordered not to do A, B and C, and he continued doing A, B, C, D... all the way through G.”

With that, Cali asked the police officer to be kept without bail.

Miller, the judge, asked Cali if he’d actually said “no bail.” The prosecutor said yes.

“This is difficult situation for all of us,” the judge said.

Most of the time, bail is simply used to make sure someone comes back to court. But that’s not really a concern here, the judge noted. Mims' family and friends came to court today to support him. He’s a lifelong Central New York resident. He’s made all of his court appearances so far.

Instead, the bail seems to be a way to keep Mims from harming himself or others, the judge noted. (Those factors are allowed in domestic-violence cases.)

Miller said he’d set bail, noting it was against the wishes of the prosecution. With that, he set bail at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

The judge also signed a third court order keeping Mims away from his girlfriend. Mims signed the third order of protection in court.

Mims was not freed in court today. He’ll have to get together the money and bring it to the jail before he can go home.

He’s still facing the felony criminal contempt and the misdemeanors for the domestic incidents.