News

November 6, 2009

Math helps police reconstruct scene

State police sergeant gives Citizens’ Police Academy insight into his work.

FORTY FORT – Todd Norton gave a one-hour crash course on reconstructing accident scenes.

Norton, a patrol sergeant for the state police accident reconstruction unit at the Wyoming barracks, spoke to citizens at Thursday’s Pennsylvania State Police Citizens’ Police Academy.

Norton, 39, began his career as a state police trooper in 1992. He was promoted to sergeant in three years ago.

His duties include reconstructing serious auto crashes that sometimes involve fatalities and investigating major crime scenes. Norton also is a certified inspection mechanic.

“There’s a lot of math in this,” Norton said about his job.

Two accident reconstruction specialists are assigned per troop, Norton said. There are five stations in Troop P area with two located in Luzerne County.

Accident reconstruction specialists must go beyond describing the collision scene, Norton said.

They must mark every tire mark and every piece of evidence along the roadway with paint. The job involves making measurements, determining friction and speed, mapping out the scene and documenting it all.

“You have to describe the whole thing,” he said.

A state police general investigation accident report typically consists of a synopsis, field notes, vehicles and persons involved, measurements, conclusions and aerial shots.

Norton also explained how the speed of an involved vehicle is determined.

In the second part of Thursday’s class, Cpl. Nick Gushka of the Wyoming barracks, spoke about the organization’s vice unit, which investigates drugs, gambling and prostitution crimes.

The program in its sixth week and is held weekly at the organization’s training facility in Forty Fort.

Jen Marckini, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210.

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