Waukesha News

Waukesha police chief clears cop in crash involving bicyclist

Dec. 30, 2010
0 Comments
SHARE

By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Dec. 30, 2010 0

Waukesha - Waukesha Police Chief Russell P. Jack has decided that no discipline is warranted against Officer Ian DeKarske, who struck a bicyclist crossing Highway 164 on Waukesha's east side in July.

Responding to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel records request, Jack issued a letter citing a number of factors for his decision. They included impaired visibility because of darkness, no street lighting, the bicyclist's dark clothes and lack of bike reflectors, and the failure of the bicyclist to yield to cars on a highway at an uncontrolled intersection.

The district attorney earlier declined to issue charges in the case.

Travis Weber, 17, of Waukesha was crossing the six-lane divided state highway about 9:30 p.m. July 13 with another bicyclist when he was struck by DeKarske's squad, who was responding without emergency lights and siren to assist another officer. Weber survived but suffered a head injury, leg injuries and a cut to the chin.

The Wisconsin State Patrol investigation concluded DeKarske was traveling 57 mph on the highway, where the speed limit is 45 mph.

Both District Attorney Brad Schimel and Jack called his speed reasonable. Jack said the officer was acting within department policies and state law.

About Laurel Walker
Laurel Walker covered local, school and county government for 20 years -- the last half of that at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- before she was named Waukesha County columnist in 1997. Today she writes about the people, places and events around metropolitan Milwaukee with a broad suburban focus. She was the youngest of nine children raised on a central Wisconsin farm before leaving the nest for journalism studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a masters degree at the University of Oregon. She has spent the last half of her life in Waukesha County, where she and her husband raised two sons. Though she has a fondness for life in Waukesha, she eagerly partakes in the culture of the big city to the east and the recreation of the forests to the west. With sons in the arts, she has a special fondness for symphonic music concerts and art museums. She finds peace in a good book at a Northwoods getaway weekend, adventure in family visits to the east and west coasts, and satisfaction in a column well-written that reaches readers.
0 Share Tweet Print
NewsWatch

Truck hits, kills 83-year-old woman crossing street in Bay View 2:47 p.m.

Man remains in custody for fatal shooting in Milwaukee 2:30 p.m.

Attackers kill 42 in scenes of chaos at Istanbul airport 2:29 p.m.

Groups to provide $1 million for YMCA’s urban mission 2:24 p.m.

Initial Reaction Podcast: A look ahead to US Open 2017, look back at Champions Tour event in Madison Updated: 2:00 p.m.

Means resigns as leader of Milwaukee turnaround district 1:42 p.m.

Jury dismissed after deadlocking in Berit Beck murder trial 1:36 p.m.

Stegman is new president of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 1:15 p.m.

Canadian bank to buy parent company of The PrivateBank 12:16 p.m.

Marcus considers building downtown tower that would include new cinema Updated: 11:47 a.m.

Green Sheet: When RFK slipped into Appleton for McCarthy’s funeral 11:28 a.m.

Meijer says Waukesha store to open on Aug. 2 Updated: 11:06 a.m.

Summerfest 2016: Follow the action at Summerfest 11:00 a.m.

Summerfest 2016: Milwaukee band Direct Hit! opening for Blink-182 at Marcus Amphitheater 10:53 a.m.

Patti Guerrero: Guerrero battled health challenges by giving to family, co-workers 10:52 a.m.

Man found guilty of vandalizing Wales Elementary School, causing $70,000 of damge 10:45 a.m.

Authorities ID body found in Lake Michigan in Kenosha 9:53 a.m.

Delafield residents call for restrictions on national political campaign spending 9:40 a.m.

Walker's Point strip club loses fight to delay 90-day closure 9:32 a.m.

Wife speaks out after fireworks incident involving war vet 9:22 a.m.

Suspect held as FBI transcribes tapes in Masonic center plot 9:00 a.m.

Village of Mukwonago's sex offender residency ordinance takes effect June 30 8:45 a.m.

On Tap Today: Summerfest, of course 8:25 a.m.

PolitiFact: Do doctors kill 250,000 people every year in botched surgeries? 5:00 a.m.

Spike Brewing provides custom equipment for homebrewers 5:00 a.m.

Jim Stingl: Electronic artist catches Summerfest scammer in the act 5:00 a.m.

Dodgers 6, Brewers 5: Dodgers' defense shuts down Brewers' late rally Yesterday
11:50 p.m.

Buddy Ryan, NFL coach and defensive mastermind, dies at 85 10:13 p.m.

Missing Waukesha County teen found unharmed 9:53 p.m.

Warmer temperatures expected in Milwaukee Wednesday 9:41 p.m.

Wisconsin’s appeal on abortion turned away by Supreme Court 9:23 p.m.

Jury in trial of man accused of killing Berit Beck says it is deadlocked 7:40 p.m.

Larger lawsuit promised after settlement in Capitol protest 7:25 p.m.

Walker's Point neighborhood draws another apartment development 6:59 p.m.

Annual survey shows the high cost of long-term care 6:31 p.m.

Police summer strategy includes more foot, bicycle patrols 6:30 p.m.

Private equity firm buys majority stake in music publisher Hal Leonard Corp. 6:27 p.m.

Verizon to sell $1.17 billion in bonds backed by mobile payments 6:02 p.m.

Ron Johnson campaign turns to ground game strategy 5:49 p.m.

Wisconsin eligible for $13 million to combat opioid crisis 5:46 p.m.

Brown Deer driver, 37, charged in crash near Strawberry Festival 5:36 p.m.

Study based at UW raises hopes for Zika vaccine, immunity 5:29 p.m.

Pat Summitt, most wins of any Division I basketball coach, dies at 64 5:10 p.m.

West Allis pair confess to kidnapping, killing pregnant woman 5:06 p.m.

Amazon's Dash buttons can thwart smart shopping 4:58 p.m.

Google offers new way for users to manage ads, personal data 4:51 p.m.

As 49th Summerfest kicks off, leaders looking to future 4:24 p.m.

Johnson Controls to provide systems for Sacramento arena 4:05 p.m.

Panel OKs $20 million financing plan for streetcar extension 3:47 p.m.

Feds urge consumers to act quickly on Ikea dresser recall 2:35 p.m.

Advertisement

More Waukesha County News

More
Photo Galleries
Local Video
Loading...

MORE: Local video | National news | Sports

Advertisement