ACTAR
PO Box 1493
North Platte, NE 69103-1493
800-809-3818
actaradmin@actar.org

DENVER RESEARCH INSTITUTE 

Located at the University of Denver in Denver , Colorado the Denver Research Institute (DRI) is home for many of the Universities sponsored and grant funded programs.  Included is the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) a sponsored program under the US Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ).  As a pilot program NLECTC is home for the DRI Crash Science and Technology Program.  Crash Sciences began in late 2004 when it was learned that the RMITS (Rocky Mountain Institute for Transportation Safety (RMITS) was no longer to receive funding from either Colorado State University nor the Colorado Department of Transportation.  Two former RMITS Staff Instructors, Dr. William Bloxsom (PhD) and Mr. William Mael (BSTS) approached DRI in an attempt to secure a new home for Crash Training and Research at DU.  The proposed program came to life under the title of Crash Sciences and was developed to provide the Law Enforcement community with a resource in crash technology.  Crash Sciences mission is to provide the latest in technology and training at low or no cost to the agencies. 

One of the first programs to be developed and delivered was the Crash Scene Technology series.  This program provided a 40 hour advanced training block in the new technology and methodology that was on the forefront in the crash sciences field.  The Center had been approached by numerous LE agencies in their search for advanced technology training in such areas as Crash Data Retrieval and Computer Crash Animation.  Utilizing the training skills Bloxsom and Mael had obtained with over 20 years experience in the RMITS program several new programs were developed for delivery in the Center’s 10 state region.  Soon the project had ten new training programs available for delivery including CDR, Computerize Crash Analysis and Motorcycle Crash Reconstruction.  The program’s audience grew to include local and state Prosecutors and the legal community.  During Crash Sciences second year over 14 programs were delivered to numerous LE agencies in the region including as far south as Houston, Texas, north to Missoula, MT and east to Leavenworth, KS . 

In addition to training and development programs the Crash Sciences team provides support services to the law enforcement and justice community through our outreach technology assistance program.  As a part of the projects commitment to advancing science DRI elected to join the ACTAR Governing Board of Directors as a sponsoring organization in 2006.  In essence DRI assumed the position vacated by the RMITS to represent the Rocky Mountain region.  Funding has been continued for this project and it remains viable into the 2008-2009 Federal budget cycle.  The Crash Sciences program has a limited web presence as the NLECTC website undergoes revision.  An article detailing some of the programs activities can be found at www.nlectc.org/techbeat  Our hope is in the near future program registration and course content will be accessible through www.nlectc-rm.org in the interim you may contact Bill Mael, Program Specialist at bmael@du.edu for information. 

<< Return to Organizations