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Allen County council approves $68,000 for standalone cooler after coroner warns of limited space and decomposed decedents
Summary
The council approved a $68,000 purchase of a Polar King standalone cooler to expand decedent storage, following testimony from Coroner John Brannenberger about capacity limits, decomposition odor issues, and regional caseload pressures. Council members requested security cameras at the proposed Meyer Road location.
John Brannenberger, Allen County coroner, told the County Council on March 12 that the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center's cooler is too small for current caseloads and that decomposed decedents have produced odors in downtown hallways. "Presently at the forensic center, 12 carts ... can fit into the cooler. Presently, we have 2 unidentified decomposed individuals in the cooler and they've been there for months," Brannenberger said, adding that the center serves 12 counties and sometimes must double up decedents on a cart.
Brannenberger and Chief Deputy Coroner Chris Meals described operational impacts and options. Meals said the office performs about 650…
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