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The Park County Coroner has to be a driven person who is ready to stop at nothing to thoroughly investigate all cases, identify all decedents, care for the families and testify to the results. David is that person and has been for the past 12 years. The Park County Coroners Office works everyday to bring the latest in Forensic Sciences right here to Park County. Some of the main roles and what the office currently does are below.

Investigation

Coroner is a completely independent investigator of death. Unlike TV, the Coroner is not under the control of law enforcement. The Coroner is a "voice for the deceased." By this I mean the Coroner is charged by state statute with finding the cause of death. This means evaluating every aspect of the death scene. People present, location of the death, environment, position of the body, events leading up to the death and medical history are all considered.

Each of David's Deputy Coroners are Registry Certified Death Investigators through the ABMDI. David is Board Certified with the ABMDI which is the highest level of Medicolegal Death Investigation in the Country.

The office has been Fully Accredited by the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners since 2015. The Coroners Office is the smallest accredited office in the country! This is the score card that shows that the office is achieving the highest standards. You can read the entire report from the last audit in the 2020 Annual Report on the Coroners Office website.

Medical

Medical training and experience are very important for a coroner investigator. In addition to scene investigation, knowledge of anatomy, physiology, disease and trauma is crucial to a successful death investigation. David has established a standard in the office that all staff have a strong medical or anatomy and physiology background. David himself leads the office with a background as a Paramedic and a degree in Healthcare Management.

Notification

When a death occurs the county coroner is responsible to notify next of kin. This job is a very difficult one. David has utilized as much technology and techniques as possible to make sure families are notified as soon as possible. David and his team established the Coroner CARE Team in 2016 to support families and friends on their worst day. This team is the pride of the office and has helped hundreds of family and friends after the death of a loved one.

Decedent Care

Respectful handling and removal of the deceased is a top priority of David and his staff. Every decedent in the county is moved with great care in appropriate vehicles and to a secure forensic morgue in Fairplay. Every decedent in the county is treated with the basic respect all human beings deserve while in the care of the Coroners Office.