Duties & Responsibilities

  1. Availability to the Coroner or deputy Coroner 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
    1. Responsible for all personnel in the role of Chief Deputy and Deputy Coroners.
    2. Provides the Sheriff's Department Dispatchers with the on-call staff schedule.
  2. Interacts with adjunct agencies
    1. Collaborates with police investigations regarding unusual deaths.
    2. Collaborates with physician and hospital professionals regarding death under the Coroner's jurisdiction.
    3. Collaborates with the pathologists regarding factual investigative information in a medicological death investigation case.
    4. Dialogs frequently with funeral home directors to complete the decedent's logistical information for death certificates.
    5. Submits mandated state reports for vehicular fatalities, boating fatalities, and sudden infant deaths.
    6. Communicates factual information to the media. Decedent's names are withheld pending notification of their family.
  3. Coordinates death scene investigation with police, pathologists, toxicologists, radiologists, medical professionals and, families.
    1. Ordering autopsies, tox screens, x-rays, procurement of hospital records, etc.
  4. Responsible for the notification of the next of kin.
    Note: The preferred method of notification is person to person. If next of kin lives out of their County or another state, that law enforcement agency is called to enlist their help with the notification.
  5. Community Services
    1. Actively participate in programs for young adults relative to safe driving and the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.
    2. Conducts informational presentation regarding the role of the Coroner to various groups. (i.e. service clubs, hospital staff, firemen, emergency medical staff, etc).
  6. Conservation of peace and acts as the Sheriff should a vacancy occur in that office and until a Sheriff is appointed by the County Board.