Title
Civilian Crash Investigation Program
Action
Action:
Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $1,271,000 from the Municipal Debt Service Fund to the Capital Equipment Fund for the purchase of vehicles for the city's new Civilian Crash Investigation Program.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Dave Johnson, Police
Mike Harris, Police
Christopher Rorie, Police
Explanation
* In summer 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly passed NC General Statute 160A-499.6, which allows cities to employ civilian personnel to investigate traffic crashes that solely involve property damage (i.e., no personal injury). This was a priority on City Council's 2023 State Legislative Agenda.
* The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) plans to implement a program modeled from this legislation with 16 civilian crash investigators.
* Investigators would work two, eight-hour shifts (6am to 2pm and 1pm to 9pm) Monday to Friday with eight investigators active on each shift.
* In 2022 CMPD officers spent 31,262 hours responding to 23,992 qualifying crashes during this time frame. This volume of crashes would provide a full workload for 16 civilian investigation positions.
* Civilian traffic investigators would be required to complete a training program designed by the North Carolina Justice Academy. CMPD is also planning to require investigators to attend an additional two weeks of CMPD-specific classroom training and four weeks of field training.
* The uniform and vehicles of civilian investigators would be substantially different in color and style than those of sworn CMPD officers.
* Civilian investigators would be unarmed and have no authority to arrest or issue any criminal process.
* Sworn officers would be called to respond to any scenes involving personal injury, fatality, or evidence of driver impairment.
* Annual operating costs for the program are estimated to be $1,100,000.
* CMPD plans to implement the program in July of 2024 using a mix of hybrid and fully electric ve...
Click here for full text