INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Metro Police Chief Paul Ciesielski said Saturday that an eavesdropping device found in the desk of the department's deputy chief of investigations was inoperable.

In a statement released late Saturday morning, Ciesielski said that the device found in Deputy Chief William Benjamin's desk had "inadvertently been left there by an officer who had previously occupied that desk."

"The device was very unsophisticated technology, in pieces, requiring a nine-volt battery to operate and was, in fact, not operable in its current condition," Ciesielski said.

The statement also said that "everyone familiar with the device knew it was inoperable and of very poor quality when it was reported to me."

Ciesielski said Friday that he had launched an internal investigation after the device was found in an electronics sweep of the office.

Earlier this week, Benjamin and his top aide, Maj. Chris Boomershine, gave notice of their intent to petition the Fraternal Order of Police union to provide legal counsel.

Sources told 6News the FBI was investigating a physical altercation between the men and a 31-year state police veteran, Master Trooper Detective Wayne Billings, Aug. 17.

Sources close to the investigation told Rinehart that Billings went to Benjamin's office in plain clothes and made accusations of a personal nature, and that a scuffle ensued when Billings tried to run from the office.

FOP President Sgt. Bill Owensby told Rinehart that one of the interested parties told him that he had confirmed through state police and the FBI that the U.S. Justice Department was looking into the matter, and another source confirmed that the FBI has possession of a tape made by Billings of the altercation.

"I think the only thing we do, then, is wait for notification from the FBI that they want to talk to either one of those two officers … and go from there," Owensby said.

Representatives for Mayor Greg Ballard and Public Safety Director Frank Straub denied asking for FBI help in reviewing the incident.

State police said Billings had been placed on administrative duty as they conduct their own internal investigation into the initial altercation.