In their latest attempt to slime the prior administration instead of accepting the responsibility that comes with power, it appears that Mayor Lunky and his handlers have shoved washed-up windbag Bob Turner back into the spotlight:

The push to put officers on the streets forced Indianapolis police to lower their standards, and may have contributed to the recent rash of officer arrests, said former public safety director Robert Turner Thursday.

Turner — who served for six and a half years under former Mayor Bart Peterson — spoke with 6News’ Jack Rinehart by phone Thursday.

In an effort to fulfill Peterson’s campaign pledge to hire an additional 200 police officers by the summer of 2003, he said standards were lowered at the police training academy.

So, all the officers who’ve allegedly broken laws graduated on Peterson’s watch, right?

Five of the 10 IMPD officers criminally charged within the last four months graduated from recruit classes hired during the Peterson administration, Rinehart reported.

D’oh!

By the by, wasn’t Turner Peterson’s public safety director? Why didn’t he bother speaking up back when this supposedly was happening? Or has he always been a powerless nincompoop?

We all know Ballard’s a bit of a dim bulb, but you’d think his handlers would know better than to unleash Turner on the media. He’s a loose cannon who just loves to recklessly flap his jaw. The poor guy’s been bitter since Peterson canned him for being incompetent. I guess this is how those who dwell in the Land Of Irrelevance pass their time.

P.S. Didn’t Turner try to get a job in Ballard’s administration? How’s it feel to be the poster child for political liability, Bobby?