WHEREAS, the National Safety Council reports that in the United States there are nearly 12 million motor vehicle crashes which result in approximately 42,000 deaths, 2,000,000 disabling injuries, and a cost to society of $167.3 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, police officers from every jurisdiction are called upon to investigate or reconstruct such motor vehicle crashes; and

WHEREAS, it is important that police officers investigating and reconstructing such crashes correctly determine the causation factors involved in each such crash, in order to assess responsibility and to help prevent future crashes; and

WHEREAS, modern technology and engineering in the area of accident investigation and reconstruction has steadily improved over the years; and

WHEREAS, enhanced training of designated police officers as accident reconstruction investigators and specialists has been provided by many police agencies to police officers in their command; and

WHEREAS, the training and use of such specially trained police officers further the public interest in accurate assessment of responsibility for motor vehicle crashes, and prevention of future crashes; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), duly assembled at its 103rd annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, encourages all members to adopt or expand existing accident reconstruction and investigation programs within their respective agencies, and to share innovative techniques and ideas within the law enforcement community, in order that the highest level of professionalism in the investigation and reporting of motor vehicle crashes may be maintained.