NBPD scrapping crash investigators

The Newport Beach Police Department’s traffic division will eliminate its three accident investigator positions and is considering reducing seven more positions as cost-saving measures.

The affected employees are sworn police officers. Altogether, the proposed job cuts could save the department $842,000 in the 2011-12 fiscal year, said Newport Beach Police Lt. Bill Hartford.

As of July 1, the accident investigators will be eliminated, and the department is considering not taking reports for non-injury collisions, Hartford said.

Other options under consideration include having patrol officers take non-injury reports.

Hartford said that six other traffic division positions are being considered for reduction: three traffic officers, three parking control officers and one animal control officer.

The nine employees who hold these different positions would be transferred to other positions on the police department’s payroll. The three traffic officers would be moved back to patrol.

—Lauren Williams