Public Safety Director Frank Straub WIBC.com photo: Liz Thomas

Indianapolis leaders are reacting to "unthinkable misjudgment" involving a city police officer that led to a fatal crash.

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"What happened at 56th St. and Brenden Way Dr. is absolutely unacceptable," Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said.

Ballard joined Public Safety Director Frank Straub and Metro Police Chief Paul Ciesielski Wednesday to express both their disgust and sympathy in connection with the accident.

"When I heard about this, I was shocked, disappointed, and quite frankly, pretty darn angry that this would happen," Ciesielski said.

Test results indicate Officer David Bisard, 36, had a blood alcohol level of .19 percent following the crash Friday that killed Eric Wells, 30. Kurt Weekly, 44, remains in critical condition, and Mary Mills, 47, is listed in fair condition.

Ciesielski claims Bisard began Friday by taking his squad car to the sheriff's garage for an oil change around 8:30 a.m. He then reportedly picked up his children at home and took them to soccer camp before returning to take a shower and get ready for work.

"He lives on the northeast side and was coming westbound on 56th Street when he received the run to assist, so he had just basically gotten on duty and that was his first official radio run of the day."

Mayor Ballard is now placing part of the blame on other members of IMPD.

"This latest incident, and the incident with Officer Blinn, was a failure of leadership and peers, failing each other on a human level."

He thinks others could have helped prevent the tragedy from taking place.

"I'm confident that someone knew of the human weakness that was present, and yet failed to act or to inform others."

But Chief Ciesielski says none of the responding officers knew Bisard was drunk.

"Not one person, including members of my command staff, said that they recognized that on the scene."

He maintains the officer wasn't given special treatment.

"Nothing was done differently than would have been done for any other citizen had they be involved in this accident, and ultimately, he most likely will be arrested."

Cielselski plans to make a recommendation for Bisard's termination to the Police Merit Board.

Public Safety Director Frank Straub says an internal investigation continues.

"In terms of whether supervisors will be held accountable, that's part of the investigative process."

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