As police request four additional traffic accident investigators for the upcoming fiscal year, car crashes in Coral Springs are declining

Coral Springs, Florida – The proposed budget for Coral Springs’ upcoming fiscal year includes a request for 16 new posts, including four for investigators of traffic accidents.

This coincides with the recent online statement made by City Police Chief Bradley McKeone, who credited his department’s increased enforcement for the decline in traffic accidents.

“Comparing the same periods (October 2022 to May 2023 and October 2023 to May 2024), our community has experienced a 4 percent reduction in roadway vehicle crashes,” McKeone wrote in the July 1 message. “Additionally, for each of the last eight consecutive months (Oct 2023 – May 2024), the number of roadway crashes was below the three-year rolling average.”

Therefore, what justifies the $524,540 request for additional traffic accident investigators for the fiscal year 2024–2025?

It turns out that the title of the position does not accurately describe what traffic accident investigators do.

“While yes, there is a reduction in crashes, our traffic accident investigators do not only handle traffic crashes,” Ryan Himmel, the police department’s spokesperson, explained in an email to TAPinto Coral Springs.

“To name a few of their additional responsibilities, they also handle law calls with no suspects, property crimes, and animal complaints. This extra assistance helps keep our law enforcement officers on the street for emergency situations and criminal cases,” he added.

Himmel stated that the statistics on road accidents over the previous three years were not immediately available.

According to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the department has requested funding for the new traffic accident investigators, which includes the capital outlay required to outfit the investigators as well as operational funds for salaries and benefits. The planned budget comes to $524,540 after adding up both amounts.