Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
3 3/1/201 4 3/1/201 4 3/01/201 7
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SP50 1 – Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) 1 SP501 MAJOR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM (M.A.I.T.)
SP501 .1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The primary goal of the Tustin Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team is to
investigate traffic collisions resulting in serious injury or death .
A secondar y goal is to maintain an increased amount of training and experience on a team
whose members accept the responsibility of responding to call -outs, outside their normal work
shift.
SP501 .1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This procedure pertains to the following CALEA standards: 61.2.1, 61.2.2, 61.2.3, 61.2.4 , 61.4.4
and 83.1.1 .
This procedure pertains to the following General Orders: 500.1, 500.2, 500.3, 502, 707.2 , 707.5,
and 1004.2 .
SP501 .2 M.A.I.T. INVESTIGATOR PROCEDURES
The M.A.I.T. Investigator is a sworn police officer or police services o fficer with experience in
traffic accident investigations. M.A.I.T. Investigators receive advanced training in accident
investigations and acciden t reconstruction while accepting the responsibility of responding to
traffic call -outs as a collateral duty assignment.
SP50 1.2.1 SELECTION OF M.A.I.T. INVESTIGATOR
Applicants may be sworn officers or police services officers and should understand this position
is a collateral duty assignment and results in no additional compensation. Due to the nature of
this positio n, applicants must demonstrate a desire to further their education in the area of traffic
collision investigations. An aptitude for adva nced mathematics and physics is hig hly
encouraged . Applicants should demonstrate a high degree of communication skills , due to the
variety of contact with different members of the public, usually under stressful and emotional
circumstances . Applicants must also be able to work within a collaborative team, balancing a
fluctuating workload and complex aspects of a meticulous investigation.
The selection process will consist of a letter of interest . Consistent with other collateral
assignmen ts, personnel will be selected for the team based on department needs.
SP501.2.2 TERM OF ASSIGNMENT
The position of M.A.I.T. Investigator is an at -will collateral duty assignment . M.A.I.T.
Investigators serve at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
3 3/1/201 4 3/1/201 4 3/01/201 7
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SP50 1 – Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) 2 SP501 .2.3 M.A.I.T. INVESTIGATOR TRAINING
As the field of traffic collision investigations evolves and technology improves, M.A.I.T.
Investigators are encouraged to continually further their knowledge in this area.
SP501 .2.4 M.A.I.T. INVESTIGATOR FIELD TRAINING
The circumstances of investigations requiring a M.A.I.T. call -out are different every incident.
Due to the infrequency of these incidents, new M.A.I.T. Investigator s will be teamed with a more
experienced M.A.I.T. Investigator who will wa lk the new Investigator through the course of the
investigation.
SP50 1.2.5 RECOMMENDED COURSES
A variety of POST and outside agency facilitated courses are relevant to the job of a M.A.I.T.
Investigator. While furthering the education of the M.A.I.T. Investigator is a priority for the
department, there are many factors that influence the ability of a new investigator to be trained
as an Accident Reconstruction Expert. Some of those factors include the availability of the
encouraged courses, budget, an d scheduling. The following courses, while not required, are
highly desired and an attempt to attend these courses should be made as a member of M.A.I.T.
a) POST Traffic Collision Investigation
b) POST Traffic Collision Investigation – Skidmark Analysis (Inte rmediate)
c) POST Traffic Collision Investigation – Advanced
d) POST Traffic Collision Investigation – Reconstruction
e) Total Station Operation and Diagramming
f) Basic Field Evidence Technician
g) Advanced Field Evidence Technician
h) Drug and Alcohol Recognition
i) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
j) Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement
k) Drug Recognition Expert
l) Basic Investigator
m) Interview and Interrogation Techniques
SP50 1.3 M.A.I.T. INVESTIGATOR DUTIES
SP50 1.3.1 ON-CALL STATUS
M.A.I.T. Investigator is a voluntary collateral assignment and results in no additional pay for
being on -call. If a M.A.I.T. Investigator is going to be out of town or there is a scheduling conflict
that will result in the Investigator being unavailable f or call -out, that conflict should be
communicated to the M.A.I.T. Supervisor to avoid confusion if