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Carbon County coroner reports increased investigations, highlights unclaimed remains and staffing needs
Summary
Coroner Mark Smith told Carbon County commissioners the office handled about 628 cases last year, purchased on-site drug-testing equipment with opioid grant funds and plans recommendations on handling unclaimed remains; he described transportation and lack of clerical help as the office’s top operational challenges.
Mark Smith, Carbon County coroner, updated the Board of Commissioners on the coroner's office caseload, equipment acquisitions and operational needs during a presentation at the commissioners' meeting.
Smith said the office handled what he recalled as "about 628" calls last year and has already recorded 100 calls so far this year. "Our goal is to have a representative from our office on scene within an hour; that's the national standard. We've been more or less aiming for 45 minutes, and we've been meeting that," Smith said.
The coroner described several changes he said have sped investigations and reduced costs. Using opioid grant funding, the office purchased a Randox multi-stat tester and began using it in mid-January. Smith said the tester has been used twice so far and "was able to save the county the cost of two autopsies." He added the office verified the device's findings against a reference…
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