GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) -- Thousands of calls for service have been taken off of patrol officer’s plates in Greensboro thanks to a new program. The Greensboro Police Department launched a civilian traffic investigation team to respond to minor crashes and let officers focus on higher-priority calls.  They officially started in March, and the program is working exactly as they planned. There is a team of five people who work five days a week. Together, they average 300 calls a month and help people who run out of gas and people who need a tire fixed, and they write up crash reports. “We spend a lot of time in our vehicles,” Civilian Traffic Investigator Nadia Nicole Craneweir said. “As soon as you hit the roadway, your radio ... lets you know what is about to happen,” Craneweir said. Once they get to the scene, they search for whatever tools they need in the back of their truck. They respond to small crashes, disabled vehicles and similar calls on their own. Sometimes, they help with traffic at big scenes or events. “It has been rewarding, to say the least,” Craneweir said. In the first few months, the new team handled one-eighth of the crash reports across the city of Greensboro. “It is tremendous the impact they have been able to have,” Sergeant A.D. Reed said. The first five hires went through a three-week academy to learn policies and procedures and then spent five weeks training in the field with officers. “And they have just flourished since then. It has been amazing to watch them grow and develop and see them mature with what they are able to do ... They really work well,” Reed said. They are prepared for a number of situations, but they do not have the power to make an arrest. They have made a big impact, and they are just getting started. "In the beginning, I was just curious about the position ... When I was hired, I was really excited. Now I realize how fun this job actually is, and it is really rewarding. You always meet someone new. You always walk away with a feeling of accomplishment,” Craneweir said. Right now, there are no official plans to hire more civilian traffic investigators, but the department hopes to grow the program in the future because of the positive results they’ve seen in the first few months.