Overview
The traffic crash investigators are highly trained officers who investigate serious traffic crashes, fatalities, and major property damage crashes. Traffic crash investigators are selected officers within the department that usually have a minimum of two years of experience which includes investigating routine crashes. These selected officers are receive training in Advanced Crash Investigations and later Crash Reconstruction. These two training programs alone are 160 hours of specialized training. The Crash Investigation Unit supervisor determines the number of investigators needed and keeps each investigator up-to-date on their on-going training.
The Crash Investigation Unit supervisor determines the number of investigators needed and ensures each investigator remains up to date on ongoing training.
Specialized Tasks
Investigators utilize specialized computer equipment to map and plot crash scenes. They can create a scaled diagram of the crash scene to assist prosecutors with criminal cases that may result from the investigation.
Investigators typically mark and collect their own evidence and photograph their own scenes. Because of their specialized training, they are sometimes asked to create scaled diagrams of other crime scenes, such as homicides and robberies.