Police Chief Bobby Dodd said blood-alcohol tests on a veteran city police traffic investigator have been sent to the TBI lab, but won't be back for 3-6 weeks.
He indicated that the results of the test would help decide whether criminal charges would be brought against the 25-year officer who was part of a motorcycle patrol at the Riverbend Festival on Saturday night.
In the meantime, Officer Steve Jones is on administrative leave.
Chief Dodd said Officer Jones is eligible to retire effective today since he just reached 25 years of service.
He said Officer Jones arrived at the Riverbend command post around 6 p.m. and left with a squadron of six motorcyclists plus supervisors around 10:30 to go to the Olgiati Bridge. He said the officers were making sure that no one stopped on the bridge to watch the Riverbend fireworks.
The chief said one of the officers "noticed something" about Officer Jones. He said he was administered tests at the scene and at the command post and then, based on those tests, was asked to give the blood sample.
Chief Dodd said there is an issue about what time some of the other officers knew there might be a problem with Officer Jones, how much they knew and what action was taken. He said that will be part of an Internal Affairs investigation.
He said his aim is to treat police officers "just as we do any other citizen."
The chief said officers on duty are suppose to have "zero percent" alcohol in their systems. He said they are not allowed to drink alcohol within eight hours of coming on duty.
Chief Dodd said, "I have known Steve Jones for 25 years. He is a great traffic investigator and a good friend. But you have to step back from that in this type situation."