Medical examiner reports fewer drug deaths, higher suicides; proposes therapy dog for staff

The medical examiner told the Washington County Public Safety Committee that drug-related deaths have declined over recent years but that suicides rose to a five-year high in 2024, a trend the examiner said warrants more prevention work.

The examiner presented staffing and operational updates, including reorganizing one full-time slot into two part-time positions, bringing an intern on board, and improvements in certificate turnaround time: the office reduced external turnaround from about 23 days to roughly two weeks. The office reported 24 autopsy cases, 55 scenes and 31 transports so far this year, and said five of 24 autopsy cases remain pending.

Following the report, the medical examiner floated a proposal to introduce a therapy dog based in the medical-examiner office to support staff mental health and to share the resource with other county departments and community partners. “I can’t think of anything better than coming back from a hard call and getting some puppy cuddles at the office,” the examiner said, describing therapy dogs’ role in reducing stress and anxiety for public-safety personnel. The examiner said the office would be the primary handler and that a secondary handler in the office would assist.

The examiner said initial training and delivery could be covered by a foundation that donates station dogs to first responders and estimated ongoing costs such as food and veterinary care would be “in the low to $2,000 category,” depending on where the county receives veterinary services. Several committee members asked about liability, custody, and whether another department might get more use from the dog; the examiner said those details would be worked out with the county attorney and county clerk if the committee decided to pursue the idea.

There was no formal vote to adopt a therapy-dog program; the committee did not register opposition to continuing to study the concept.