OFF THE WIRE
September 13, 2010
Mr. Wendell Eagle
2001 Adams Creek Court
Concord, NC 28025-6103
Dear Mr. Eagle:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the tragic loss of one of
Indianapolis citizen, Eric Wells. I have received numerous emails,
letters, and calls from caring individuals like you who wish to express
their anger and concern for what has happened.
The incident in which Officer David Bisard took the life of motorcyclist
Eric Wells and critically injured Mary Mills and Kurt Weekly is
infuriating, disheartening, and inexcusable. Officer Bisard initiated a
chain of events that cannot be taken back. He has caused unthinkable
pain to the victims and their families, his own family, and his fellow
officers.
I fully support the suspension and termination recommendation for
Officer Bisard. These recommendations, and our departmental reforms,
mark the beginning, not the end of our actions.
This is a terrible tragedy for the victims, their families, the citizens
of our great city, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
(IMPD) officers who bravely put on their uniforms everyday and dutifully
honor the public trust. We will not heal overnight. Much work is left
to be done before we regain the trust of the public - I know this and
our police officers know this.
I ask for your support as we take decisive action to reform IMPD, to
restore public confidence in our police force, and to continue our
important fight against crime. I also ask that you continue to keep the
families of the victims involved in your thoughts and prayers as we all
work to heal together as a City.
As I stated on Saturday, September 4, while announcing internal reforms
for IMPD, it is clear that trust has been badly shaken by recent events.
I am committed to restoring your trust in IMPD. I do not tolerate
police misconduct, the use of excessive force, or corruption.
Included in my remarks were the following reforms:
* At the scene of a vehicle accident involving a police officer
that results in bodily injury or property damage, breathalyzers will be
administered to the officer involved.
* Purchase of alcohol in uniform is prohibited. While officers are
prohibited from purchasing alcohol in uniform now, the current policy is
being amended to ban them from transporting alcohol in police vehicles,
marked or unmarked.
* No alcohol consumption is permitted within eight hours of the
beginning of a shift.
* It will be the stated duty of every officer to report suspected
substance abuse or other conditions that could endanger the public or
impair an officer's ability to do the job.
* DPS will make a renewed commitment to make every officer aware
of help available to them to deal with stress and substance abuse.
Should current resources be found inadequate after an internal review
process, new programs will be implemented.
Additionally, longer term reforms have been ongoing and will continue in
an effort to upgrade the standards of IMPD.
I continue to welcome input from you and am committed to working with
those who offer constructive ideas. Everyone deserves to know the truth
surrounding the events of August 6th, and I am committed to finding the
answers no matter what the outcome may be.
Best regards,
Gregory A. Ballard
Mayor
City of Indianapolis
