Occupation/Current Position
Saint Joseph County Coroner; Board Certified Family Physician
Education
Indiana University School of Medicine; Family Practice Residency; Board Certification Family Medicine
My primary responsibility is to determine the cause, manner of death, and identification of a decedent. Ultimately, the driving force behind my responsibilities to this office is bringing closure to all families.
I have been a Board Certified Family Physician for more than 40 years. For the past 3 years, I have been the elected Coroner of Saint Joseph County. I am well anchored in the medical community which affords me access to resources not available to all.
I have tremendous respect for the dedication, determination, and experience of law enforcement. It is paramount that the Coroner works in concert with law enforcement and all other departments for the common goal of determining the cause and manner of death.
The Office of Coroner should remain an elected position. Since goal of the Coroner is to find closure for families, then families deserve the right to elect the person to do so.
The majority of Coroner cases involve decedents who have succumbed to natural causes. They are not the suspicious or publicized deaths that make the nightly news or are shown on crime shows. Nevertheless, when the Coroner is called, it is a sudden, unexpected event and each family deserves the due diligence, respect, and professionalism from the Coroner.
Of course I am committed to honoring Indiana's legal mandates. However, protecting privacy should be foremost. I use legal advice to ensure proper discharge of my duties when necessary.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Occupation/Current Position
Retired Coroner
Education
Mid-America College of Funeral Service
Campaign Phone
5743038569
Candidate video
The responsibilities of any county coroner in the State of Indiana are to make a positive identification and identify both the cause and manner of death, as required by law. Being dedicated to being a full-time Coroner is most important for families because this is an extremely emotional time for them. They need to see a competent and empathetic coroner, ready to work diligently to ensure a timely response regarding the death of their loved one. Another responsibility is being at the scene when called by the police, hospital, or fire department, promptly to do your investigation. The investigation is essential since you will be the one signing the death certificate.
I was the elected coroner in 2016 and served from 2017 until 2021. I was nominated Coroner of the Year in 2019 for the State of Indiana. I was able to remain within my budget all four years without needing any additional appropriations. Other experiences that I have which qualify me to serve as a county coroner are that I am also a retired South Bend Police Officer, I worked 30 years with McGann Ambulance, and for 43 years I was a licensed funeral director.
To ensure that the coroner’s office runs efficiently and effectively when working with law enforcement and families, I will run the same effective and fiscally responsible office that I ran for four years as the previous county coroner. I come from a law enforcement background and have always worked well with my fellow officers in all departments. I have dealt with grieving families my whole life as someone who grew up in a funeral home and has been a licensed funeral director with McGann/Hay Funeral Homes for 43 years.
There are pros and cons to each choice of being elected or appointed. Best case scenario is that the most qualified person wound be chosen for the full-time position, however, it should remain an elected position because that is the most secure and fair process to be able to enter into the position.
One thing about the county coroner’s office that I wish all members of the community understood, is the importance of being present at the scene throughout all hours of the day. Families who have lost their loved ones need a coroner who can arrive with empathy and a dedication to be timely in their investigation. You don’t have to be a doctor to be a coroner in the State of Indiana, as there are only four or five coroners out of 92 that are doctors.
In the four years when I was coroner, my office was the most accessible and transparent this county has ever seen, and I would continue this if reelected as St. Joseph County Coroner. Public records are always available to any agency requesting, but some records can only be released to the immediate family, lawyers, and insurance companies as required by law. I would be timely in the legal processes and investigations I take charge of as the coroner.
