Accident Investigators
Deputies assigned as Investigators must successfully complete no less than 160 hours of advanced training from Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, formerly known as the Traffic Institute, which was founded in 1936 and offered the first formalized training for police in accident investigation. After completing this initial block of instruction, many deputies are further trained in Vehicle Dynamics which allows them to determine speeds involved in some of the collisions they investigate.

All applicable law violations are enforced that are uncovered during a crash investigation. These range from Class C traffic violations to Intoxication Manslaughter and Murder. Recently, a Sheriff's crash investigation resulted in a man becoming the first person in Texas convicted for Felony Murder, after killing a 6-year girl in a crash while committing the offense of Felony DWI.

Investigators are also trained in Interview & Interrogation and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. All investigators are licensed as Intoxilyzer operators and several are Drug Recognition Experts. All deputies are trained as first responders to HazMat incidents.

Additional deputies have received training in pedestrian and bicycle collisions and occupant behavior in a crash. Four deputies are currently trained in Heavy Vehicle Crash Reconstruction and work closely with CMV Enforcement deputies in post-crash analysis.

Six deputies have been thoroughly trained in Traffic Accident Reconstruction and have met NHTSA criteria for Police Accident Reconstructionist. This training allows speeds to be determined in most crashes and provides for a complete picture of the events that led up to collision. Three of the reconstructionists are currently certified by Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction. Currently, only 6 peace officers in Texas have obtained this credential. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is the only law enforcement agency in Texas with three ACTAR certified officers. (Dallas PD -1, Irving PD -1, and San Antonio PD -1).