Mohave County approves one-year medical examiner contract amid public concern over performance and qualifications

Mohave County on Monday approved a one-year contract awarding county medical examiner services to the incumbent, Serenity Memorial Group, at $87,500 per month, with the option to renew for up to four additional one-year terms.

The recommendation came from a staff evaluation committee that reviewed three proposals after an RFP process that county staff said followed state purchasing rules and incorporated a review of statute-based qualifications. "This is the final result of that process with the committee recommending award to Serenity, who is the incumbent, for $87,500 monthly for the initial 1 year term with the option to renew for up to 4 additional 1 year terms," Procurement Director Tara Acton told the board.

The vote was 3–2 on a roll call. The board’s decision followed public comments urging the board to consider other providers and lengthy questioning from supervisors about performance history, RFP scoring and how the county balanced timeliness standards with operational realities.

Why it matters: County medical examiner services affect police investigations, autopsy timelines, and information available to grieving families. The item has been the subject of multiple public meetings and press coverage in recent years because Mohave has used a contract model that several supervisors described as “unorthodox” compared with the direct-physician contracts most Arizona counties use.

What the board discussed: Several public commenters and some supervisors…