» Wrote, updated, improved, and implemented policies and procedures for the coroner’s office
» Developed policies and procedures during Covid19 Pandemic
» Obtained new equipment within the office to promote efficiency and safety
» Updated employees salaries based on an Equity Analysis
» Awarded for exceptional professionalism and selfless conduct at an I-70 crash scene
» Assured that all staff have CJIS certifications and that most obtain the ABMDI certifications
» Applied and received several grants to help with costs of toxicology of opioid overdoses
» Managed the new cooler system expansion in the building
» Tightened security in the medication/property/evidence room
» Provided staff with approximately two years of Hazard pay
» Installed safety features such as door bell ring on the back dock, cameras
» Pagers removed, phones through the county for the death notifications
I plan to move the office forward into Accreditation. The staff are certified through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
In general:
Public safety is my top priority and is a huge net that covers accidents, crime, juveniles, suicide, drug related deaths, services provided and violence rates. In general, these issues are directly related to reducing the number of deaths and should be brought to the forefront. Public safety is a priority within our families, community and county, and it requires a comprehensive effort from many departments and persons. Our sustainability requires that we address these issues.
In addition, the opioid epidemic is having a profound effect on the Coroners position, due to the increase in the number of related deaths from opioid use disorder and overdose. The rates have increased significantly in Jefferson County. Because the office investigates and performs the autopsies, this creates an overloaded system for required personnel, workloads, increased court cases and the budget funding. It’s important to address issues and identify solutions that are tied to the entire system.
I believe that all persons should be treated equally, and decedents must be treated with dignity and compassion. It is critical to provide the highest standards of post-mortem care for all populations/persons and have the data reflect as such.
Our sustainability requires that we address these issues. However, as Coroner, I will continue to be a strong voice in the County and in the Communities!
Basic Info about the office:
• Jefferson County Coroner’s office is here 24/7, 365 to meet the needs of the county
• We assist approximately 10 other small counties also with needed services.
• We receive 911 dispatch calls and respond to the scenes, along with law enforcement, fire department, EMS and rescue teams.
• We receive calls from Hospitals, Hospices, Care centers, Assisted-living centers, Long-term care facilities with reports of deaths, which can add up to all calls being over 25 or more a day on average.
• We conduct a specific type of investigation for each death,
• We are required to respond to certain scenes, for example an unattended death at a home, a motor vehicle accident, a crime scene, a hospital, or any other scenes required by law. These scenes will have a comprehensive investigation, which is completed by the Coroner Investigator who responded and attended the scene.
• We respond out to the county for calls, covering 774 square miles,
• We are the 4th most Populous County in Colorado with over 582,000 citizens,
• We are the “2nd busiest Coroner Office” in Colorado!!
• We testify in court cases, respond to subpoena’s, legal requests, CORA requests, media requests, and collaborate with service contractors,
• We work daily with the District Attorney’s office, the Sheriff Department, the Police, Fire and EMS services of each city and unincorporated areas located within the county,
• We work with Donor Alliance and Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank, and the Coroner must approve any organ and tissue donations from registered donors,
• We spend many hours talking to families and providing information and are known for our compassion and empathy regarding their loss,
• We provide the citizens with an In-person response for notification of death of their loved one, which is unique to our Jeffco office.
• We handle over 1500 Death Certificates a year, completing and signing them, and placing in the EDR system.
• We have an in-office audit process in place to triple check our work!
Our Investigations are extensive and can take up to months to complete:
• We follow the Colorado Revised Statutes and determine the cause and manner of death.
• We follow NAME and IACME standards.
• We collaborate with other agencies and entities both on and off scene.
• We respond to scenes and 911 calls, determine jurisdiction,
• We conduct scene investigations, interview family and witnesses, take photographs and fingerprints, make identifications, take x-rays, perform medical examinations, draw lab work. including toxicology, review hundreds of pages of medical records, search for next of kin, notify next of kin with in-person notification, collect and secure forensic evidence and property, count and review medications, enter data info the case management system, collect data for statistical information, provide team reports, complete death certificates, review autopsy and toxicology reports, track morgue and autopsy information, receive and release decedents, and speak with families and loved ones (sometimes months atter the death).
• We work with forensic pathologists, forensic autopsy technicians and specialty forensic, medical and dental services.
As Coroner my general duties are:
• Adhere to the Colorado State Statutes
• Be accountable to the Citizens of Jefferson County
• Report to the Board of County Commissioners
• Ensure safety of the office and staff as a priority
• Develop Mission, Vision, Values and Goals for the office
• Oversee the office, autopsy suite, morgue, garage area, and the fleet of emergency vehicles.
• Participate in the daily work of investigations, as I have my ABMDI-D, CCA certification, CJIS and fingerprint certifications, and must meet those requirements.
• Manage the contracts
• Manage contracted workers both in office and out of office
• Manage the budget
• Make office decisions
• Manage office cyber security certifications
• Develop, implement, and enforce office policy and procedures
• Participate in several committees and serve on numerous boards, including the Governor’s CCTSB.
• Respond to the public and special requests, including CORA and the Media
• Attend all Officer Involved shooting scenes
• Provide community outreach
• Provide an annual report and post on the website
• Collaborate with entities and agencies throughout the county
• Provide presentations at conferences
• Provide presentations to outside entities (including schools, hospitals, businesses, law enforcement, district attorney, organizations, etc.)
• Manage employment hires/fires and salaries
My accomplishments since taking office in 2018
• Obtained critical equipment for the investigators to perform their duties
• Developed and implemented equitable pay for staff
• Increased the morgue capacity with extension of space
• Developed and implemented office policy and procedures
• Developed and implemented policy and procedure for the ongoing Pandemic situation
• Adjusted office logistics and autopsy operations to adhere to pandemic requirements
• Developed contract for Specialty Trauma Services for staff and secured funds
• Updated the Coroner Handbook
• Developed and implemented Mission, Vision and Values for the team, along with Goals for 2018 to 2022 and beyond
• Assisted team with getting board-certifications, CJIS, and fingerprinting certifications
• Applied for Accreditation with IACME (International Association of Coroner’s and Medical Examiner’s)
• Provided temporary Hazard duty pay from budget for staff and investigators from March 2020 – October 2021
• Obtained two grant funded positions under ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)
• Managed and developed office contracts and MOU’s for needed services and partnerships
• Increased fleet capacity for coroner response vehicles
• Increased staff development opportunities with training and education per statutes
• Provided numerous trainings and presentations
• Attended monthly Board of County Commissioners meetings
• Participated in County events and community events
• Serve on numerous Boards, such as the Child Fatality Review Board, the Governor’s CCSTB (Colorado Coroner’s Standards and Training Board), the North Central Region Fatality Management Board, the FCI Englewood Bureau of Prisons Community Board, the Jefferson County Nurses Board and serve on the Jefferson County Substance Abuse Partnership committee and the Jefferson County Suicide Prevention committee.
• Presented a case review on Opioids at the International Association of Coroner’s and Medical Examiners conference
• Published a peer-reviewed article with the Journal of Forensic Nursing
• Providing a 4-hour CEU accredited workshop through the Academy of Forensic Nurses.
• Presented on Coroner’s in Space and became part of the CCBN Aerospace Nursing Team
• I am waiting on a January 25th decision to be appointed to the Foothills RETAC Board by the BCC. (Regional Emergency Trauma – Advisory Council)
My most asked question: Why is the Coroner position Elected?
First a little history. The coroner elections began with medieval English common law, where the job of the coroner was to determine how and when people had died so that taxes could be collected properly. The system worked for a while, but it is different now. We have a big shortage of Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists in the US (roughly 500 and the average age is 52). It is possible for the coroner to be a BC Forensic Pathologist also, however with not enough to go around, the coroner system was created to address that issue.
In Colorado, there are 64 counties.The BC Forensic Pathologists are spread thin across the states, and Jefferson County is fortunate to have two working in our office.
My second most asked question:Can you really arrest the Sheriff?
I believe that is true….I can officially arrest the Sheriff, per the State Statutes. In Colorado, the Coroner has the same powers as a county sheriff to execute arrest warrants and to serve process and is the only county official empowered to arrest the Sheriff. When the Sheriff is for any cause committed to the jail of their county, the Coroner shall be keeper of such jail during the time the Sheriff remains prisoner. Also, if the sheriff becomes incapacitated, the Coroner is who assumes the role of sheriff and any other roles they hold in their duties, mainly because of the law enforcement nature of the coroner’s work and the fact that we are both elected officials.
You can find more info here in the Colorado State Statutes: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2018-title-30.pdf
Below are the requirements to be a Coroner within Colorado:
Other requirements are fulfilled after elected including taking Coroner training and becoming certified as a Medicolegal Death Investigator by the Colorado Coroners Association. The Colorado Nurses Association developed and pushed through that legislation.
I have been working hard towards this campaign and need your help to make sure I can be an effective leader for all of us! To do this, I must reach Voters! Every dollar you contribute will help fund this effort! Don’t let my opponents outraise me!!
