| Collision Reconstruction Program |
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(scientific analysis of traffic crashes for criminal prosecution and civil litigation)
(Scientific analysis of traffic crashes for criminal prosecution and civil litigation)
Pictured from left to right: Senior Trooper Jim Pierce, Northwest Region Reconstructionist; Sergeant Michael Stupfel, Program Manager GHQ; Senior Trooper Scott Skinner, East Region Reconstructionist; Senior Trooper Joseph Craig, Central Oregon-Bend; and Jeff Willis, Southwest Region Reconstructionist.
All Oregon State Police Reconstructionists hold current ACTAR (Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstructionists) accreditations. ACTAR is an internationally recognized organization that sets the standards for collision investigations and governs the best practices of collision reconstructions. In 2004, the Oregon State Police joined ACTAR as a participating organization. Currently, Senior Trooper Scott Skinner is an active ACTAR board member.
The Collision Reconstruction Program is a vital support program for the Patrol Services Division of the Oregon State Police. The program area is currently staffed by thirty Technical Collision Investigators, ten Area Reconstructionists, three Regional Reconstructionists, and one Program Manager. These members are strategically located throughout the state to investigate and/or reconstruct serious and fatal traffic crashes, as well as major crimes and certain high profile incidences.
In 2006, Reconstructionists investigated and/or reconstructed over 400 cases. The Regional Reconstructionists were the primary Reconstructionist in over 100 of those cases. These cases ranged from single vehicle crashes to high profile, civil and criminal cases. The majority of crashes and crime scenes are investigated and reconstructed by the local Station Reconstructionist and Technical Collision Investigators. 8,556 hours were spent reconstructing crashes and crime scenes statewide in 2006.
The emphasis of this program is on quality control and mentoring; quality control to ensure that each investigation is professional, objective, timely, and technically correct. Mentoring the current Reconstruction staff to build for the present and the future is a focus of the unit. Each investigation is reviewed by at least one Regional Reconstructionist to ensure accuracy, prior to distribution.
Continuing education is a priority of this program as technology evolves and vehicles, roadway safety features, safety equipment and investigation tools improve. During the 2005-2007 biennium, the Reconstruction program sponsored several continuing education courses that included, Heavy Truck Reconstruction, Reconstruction In-service Training, three Basic Recruit School Collision Investigation trainings, two ACTAR Prep Training courses, Crush Energy Training, and Technical Collision Investigator Training. Some of these courses were open to outside law enforcement agency participation. The program also sent members to Motorcycle Collision Investigation Training, Reconstruction Training and Heavy Truck Electronic Control Module training.
The Reconstruction Program utilizes state of the art equipment. Fifteen Total Measuring Stations are geographically located to provide the ability to precisely measure any scene. We are seeking funding to move this technology forward to include reflector less technology which results in increased officer safety by keeping Troopers out of the roadway and allowing traffic to move as an investigation is being conducted. These measurement systems integrate with the Criminal Investigative Services Division's Animation Program currently staffed by Crime Analyst, Marian Nemeth. Ms. Nemeth creates scientifically based 3-D animations of crash and crime scenes for prosecution.
The Reconstruction unit uses the Crash Zone 3-D program as its base diagramming software program. All members of the program are trained in its use. Sophisticated accelerometers are used to precisely determine roadway drag factors and for research and analysis. Members are also equipped with various technical hardware and software to dispute unreasonable outside reconstruction analyses when appropriate.
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