County Coroner Kootenai
CoronerThe coroner serves a 4-year term and investigates deaths that occur under suspicious or unknown circumstances, or when not attended by a physician during his/her last illness and the cause of death cannot be certified by a physician. The coroner may authorize an autopsy to be performed to aid in accurately and scientifically determining the cause and manner of death.
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Duke Johnson
(Rep)
What issues motivate you to run for this position?
Describe your experience with forensic medicine and/or the law?
Do you think there needs to be improvements to the budget facilities, or staffing levels?
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Office Sought
Kootenai County Coroner
Currently, I'm serving the citizens of Kootenai County as coroner. During my tenure, I have assisted our office to achieve National Accreditation with the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. At the time we we were honored with this prestigious accreditation, we were only the 47th coroner office out of approximately 2,000 in the nation to reach this goal. This award verifies that we operate at the highest national standard. We provide thorough investigations of every decedent assigned to our office in order to protect the citizens of Kootenai County from any nefarious activity. We are passionate about the work we perform and I am motivated to continue keeping all we do at the highest standard.
Currently, I'm the only coroner in the State of Idaho who is a medical doctor (MD) and have extensive medical experience. Furthermore, I'm registered by the Medical Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators as a Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator. During my tenure, I have investigated death scenes and every week, our staff reviews every case as a group to make sure we are thoroughly accounting for every detail and possibility. As coroner, I have participated in reviewing hundreds of these group discussion cases.
We have an excellent staff most all of whom have many years of experience. I'm very fortunate to work with such outstanding people who are on call 24 hours per day 365 days a year. Our staffing currently meets our work load very well now and we are not in need of expansion at this time. We monitor our budget carefully, and except for the first year of operation when had some unexpected expenses, we have been under budget. We have converted a room into an autopsy room and we have started operating as an autopsy facility. We have been provided budget by the Board of County Commissioners to build a fully operational autopsy facility which will be named Kootenai County Coroner and Regional Forensic Center scheduled to be completed this Fall.
We are building our new forensic center with interest income the county obtained so that we will not be increasing the taxes of our citizens. Additionally, we expect to receive autopsy cases from surrounding counties allowing them to obtain autopsies at a lower price than they are currently paying to Spokane Medical Examiner and simultaneously keeping Idaho taxpayer dollars within the State of Idaho. This will also help offset our costs so we can be as fiscally responsible as possible.
Thank you for giving me the privilege to serve the citizens of Kootenai County as coroner. I am passionate about this work and strongly desire to continue to protect us all.
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