Civilian Crash Investigators Added To Denver Police Force

DENVER (CBS4)- The Denver Police Department added 15 new people but they aren't officers, they're Crash Report Technicians.

The civilians are trained to respond to crashes with only minor or no injuries.

The new unit will travel to crash scenes in patrol vehicles marked with the words "civilian crash investigation."

The department hopes the investigators can help reduce wait times for people involved in minor crashes.

"Crash report technicians are also known as CRTs," said Sgt. Kimberly Lovato. "They are made up of 15 individuals who come from a variety of backgrounds with one thing in common: they all have law enforcement backgrounds and more importantly have a commitment to public safety."

The new unit is designed to free up some traditional officers so they can focus on urgent calls.