Marathon County approves reorganization to launch physician-led forensic science center

Marathon County’s Public Safety Committee voted May 6 to approve a reorganization that will transition the county medical examiner’s office to a physician-led regional forensic science center.

The committee approved a resolution to change job titles and the reporting structure so the chief forensic pathologist will serve as the county’s chief medical examiner while a newly created director of operations will oversee day-to-day administrative functions. The committee motion was made by Supervisor Yi and seconded by Supervisor Nick and passed on a voice vote.

County and medical examiner staff said the reorganization is tied to the opening of a new forensic science facility and to staffing changes already adopted in this year’s budget. Jess (last name not provided), who currently serves as medical examiner, said she will become the director of operations and that the office has successfully recruited two forensic pathologists: the chief medical examiner will begin at the end of May and the second pathologist is scheduled to start July 28. The office is actively recruiting an autopsy supervisor; the position and salary range are posted on the Marathon County website, Jess said.

Jess described the new facility’s layout during a presentation, showing a public entrance and conference room, a family grief room, observation and teaching spaces with camera feeds into the autopsy suites, two ergonomic autopsy tables in the main suite, an isolation/teaching autopsy suite, a tissue donation suite and a body intake area with an in-floor scale and cooler. Construction is on schedule and on budget, she said, with the building expected to be complete in June and staff moving in during July, subject to final occupancy approval.

Under the reorganization, staff titles will change without a large alteration in duties or pay grades, Jess said: her current chief deputy medical examiner will become investigation manager and deputy medical examiners will be retitled death investigators. The county is requesting one additional position, an autopsy supervisor, who will be the lead autopsy technician assisting pathologists and overseeing decedent intake, cleaning, release paperwork and supply management.

Jess said the office plans a gradual ramp-up of in‑house casework. Initially the facility will perform internal county autopsies and a limited number of coroner/medical examiner cases from neighboring counties while staff complete training and operational testing. She said the budget amendment to support the reorganization reallocates existing funds and anticipates that operational costs will be covered primarily by revenue generated from autopsy services the center will offer.

County staff noted statutory constraints on reporting structure. Lance (last name not provided) said state statute requires the chief medical examiner to be the head of the office and that the pathologist who serves as chief medical examiner will report to the county administrator consistent with chapter 59.18; at the same time, he said the director of operations will maintain a direct budgetary relationship with county administration.

Committee members asked about pay and timeline. Jess said salary ranges for the autopsy supervisor and other positions are posted on the county’s employment page and that the autopsy supervisor posting remains open through May 12. She confirmed recruitment for casual/contingent staff is budgeted should operations require additional help as case volume grows.

The resolution documenting the title changes, staffing requests and associated budget amendment appears on page 4 of the committee packet, staff said. The committee approved the reorganization by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.

County officials said the new center will support teaching and observation for law enforcement and students and include technology to stream autopsies to observers from cameras above the autopsy tables. The pathologists and operations staff will oversee both forensic medical determinations and the fiscal operations of the office as it transitions to the new model.

Implementation will include additional hiring, final occupancy approvals and a phased transfer of cases. Staff said they expect to perform most autopsies in‑county by summer, though some specialized cases may continue to be referred out until internal capacity is fully established.

The committee did not identify additional county funding beyond the budgeted reallocation; staff emphasized the expectation that autopsy service revenue will offset operational costs as the office builds case volume.

Ending: The committee approved the reorganization and staff will proceed with hiring and facility occupancy steps; the chief medical examiner is set to begin at the end of May and the facility move is expected during July, subject to final occupancy approvals.