This North Carolina city now has civilian crash investigators working with police

GASTONIA, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The Gastonia Police Department is taking advantage of a new law that now allows police departments to deploy civilians to help investigate non-emergency car wrecks.

Retired Florida state trooper Jeff Johnson is one of the new hires who hit the streets a week ago.

“The reason I originally got into law enforcement is I wanted to help people,” Johnson told Queen City News.

He’s one of the faces Gastonia residents might see when they need a report filed for their fender bender.

Last year, the Gastonia Police Department responded to nearly 4,800 wrecks. 87% of them didn’t involve an injury. It’s Johnson’s job—and that of three other future hires—to lessen the load on sworn officers, and file those reports. They’re the Civilian Crash Investigators.

“Typical patrol officer, if they go to handle a wreck, it’s going to be about 45 minutes to an hour per wreck, so that frees them up, and we have multiple, multiple wrecks per day,” said Sergeant Joe Bain.

In the week he’s been on the job, Johnson says he typically responds to 4-6 daily crashes. He doesn’t carry a badge, bulletproof vest or a gun. His work vehicle has lights, but no siren. If things escalate or there’s an injury, that’s when Johnson will call for an officer to take over.

“People like to argue back and forth about who’s at fault,” Johnson said. “I think I get a little more of that not being a police officer, but nothing towards me. Everybody’s been very nice and very respectful.”

So far, the job has been smooth sailing, but he has noticed his cruiser doesn’t get the same attention from drivers out on the road.

“Basically, how bad people drive. That’s what I see the most. People tend to be more cautious around a marked patrol car,” Johnson said.

Each investigator has to take a state-mandated 32-hour course and ride with a sworn officer for a month before hitting the road. It might not be the same as being a state trooper, but Johnson knows he’s making an impact.

“People’s lives are, a lot of times, turned upside down,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, some people’s cars are their whole life. It’s the way they get to work, the way they get their kids to school.”

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