Miller County coroner reports 28 December cases, flags deputy training gap

The Miller County coroner reported to the quorum court that the office handled 28 cases in December, including 11 hospice deaths and three autopsies, and said two deputies remain without the required 40-hour medical-legal death investigation training.

The coroner told the court one deputy has ample time to complete the training but another must finish it by February or the county “will no longer be able to work with” him. The coroner said the class is offered twice a year through the coroner’s association and that there is not another in-person session until April; the deputy is expected to take online training in the interim.

On call coverage, the coroner said he and chief deputy David Baumgartner rotate the county coroner phone week to week and that, when necessary, they call in other deputies who fill in largely on weekends. He also noted that coroner-elect Brad Thomas is expected soon to become a deputy and will attend the April training.

The report did not include a named coroner in the transcript; the official identified themselves in remarks transcribed as 'The Miller County coroner' and described staffing and training status. The court did not take formal action on the coroner’s report during the segment reported here.