2024-02-06 Coroner updateCoroner’s Office Update
February 6, 2024
11:33 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, Warren McLeod, Becky Butler
Guest(s): None
Recorder: Kate Chatterton
Public comment: None.
Warren discussed two legislative priorities. One is to reduce time that coroners hold indigent decedents
from 90 to 45 days. The other is to include Coroner medical exam staff under PTSD bills for L&I.
2023 Year End Update
• 900 cases
• 90 autopsies
• 5 homicides
• 19 suicides
• 58 accidentals
• 7 pending
• 4 undetermined
• 50 overdoses
o Roughly $2700 per overdose
Talked to board to see if WACME can reach out to the state for funding.
Year-to-date cases: Warren McLeod said the Coroner’s Office has responded to 100 deaths year to date,
including:
• 0 homicides
• 3 suicides
• 1 accidental deaths
• 4 drug-related deaths
• 8 autopsies
Seeing overdoses from mostly meth and fentanyl.
Discussed removals. Received two minivans, the deck gurneys’ and light radios have been purchased,
using ARPA funds. Interviewed new removal technicians, hoping to start training Feb. 17th.
Meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.