Albany County Coroner
The Coroner serves a four-year term with no term limits. Annual salary is $85,000 with some benefits. One candidate from each party will advance to the General Election. The County Coroner operates at the interface between law and medicine. In Wyoming, coroners investigate deaths due to:AccidentApparent child abuse causesApparent drug or chemical overdose or toxicityApparent suicideThe deceased was unattended by a physician or other licensed health care providerUnknown cause(s)Violent or criminal actionIn Wyoming, coroners also investigate:Certain deaths that occur in hospital settings but are conservatively considered ’unattended’ (for example, an emergency room death caused by an event outside of the hospital)Deaths of prisoners, trustees, inmates or patients of any county or state corrections facility or state hospitalUnattended deaths, or deceased having not seen a physician within six months prior to death
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RYAN HERSHEY
(Rep)
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SALLY KING
(Dem)
Why are you running for this office, and what training, experience, and skills would you bring to this office?
What are the top three challenges facing the Coroner’s office and how would you address them?
What considerations do you prioritize when investigating a death, including a possible suicide?
What is needed to assure that funding is adequate for required investigations by the coroner?
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Campaign Phone
3073994758
I am a lifetime Wyomingite and have lived in Albany County since 2001. I have deep roots and am invested in taking care of this community. I graduated from the University
of Wyoming in 2017 with Bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Physiology. I attended the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in July 2017 and earned my
certification in Coroner Basic. My career in the Coroner’s Office began as an intern in May 2016, I was hired as a deputy in August 2016 and was elected to my first term and
County Coroner in January 2023. I am familiar with the duties and statutory obligations of this office, I am a hands on investigator and I know how to treat grieving families with
compassion and respect.
Our biggest challenge the office faces is the public’s understanding of the duties of the office. When the public has to interact with this office, it is under emotional duress and so there are a lot of misconceptions regarding duties, obligations and procedures. I have taken the time to try and educate people when I have the opportunity.
Second is staffing. The County Coroner elected position will actually become full-time vs it's lifelong part time standing.
Third is Out-of-State Autopsies. We currently rely on out-of-state pathologists. For the past four years, I have actively collaborated with the Wyoming Coroner’s Association to help bring these vital autopsy services directly into our state.
I have been trained to approach scenes without bias and treat them similarly regardless of circumstances. After interviews with law enforcement, family present and other witnesses, we can then process the scene accordingly. Each scene, circumstance and decedent is different but they all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It is important to look at the entire picture and not just immediately focus using preexisting bias or information that you are given prior to arriving at the scene. Sometimes I walk in knowing a lot and sometimes I have no information so approaching scenes in the same way helps ensure a thorough investigation is performed.
I believe that educating the public about what is necessary for an investigation helps them understand why the office continues to need funding even when there is no source
of revenue. I believe in being honest with family and anyone who asks questions helps them understand where taxpayer dollars are going for investigations. I also think that
having clear policies for things like toxicology and autopsies makes it easier to understand where the money is directed consistently.
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