Pinto highlights Dr. Francisco Diaz’s forensic experience as committee takes up renomination

Councilmember Brooke Pinto called a public roundtable Feb. 11 to consider Resolution 26‑404 nominating Dr. Francisco J. Diaz for reappointment as the District’s chief medical examiner for a term through April 30, 2031. Pinto emphasized OCME’s central role in investigating violent or unexpected deaths and noted the agency’s work during the January 29 mid‑air collision over the Potomac River.

Dr. Diaz, who has served as chief medical examiner since January 2021 and earlier described his 32 years in U.S. pathology, told the committee that maintaining a “very robust medical‑legal death investigation system” requires staffing across autopsies, technicians and a transportation team, and that the District benefits from an in‑house postmortem toxicology laboratory. “We are well staffed and well funded,” Diaz said, while urging continued budget support to preserve long‑term capability.

Pinto pressed Diaz on recent trends and on the child fatality review committee’s timeliness goals. Committee staff noted an 80% target to complete child fatality reviews within six months; Diaz said delays stem from the time needed to collect broad medical, social and genetic records and from committee members’ thorough review of each case. “It takes time to certify a child death,” Diaz said, adding that the unit aims for 90% completion in 90 days when feasible but will not compromise comprehensiveness to meet an arbitrary deadline.

The chair and Diaz also discussed stress and mental‑health supports for OCME employees. Diaz described a vicarious trauma unit and wellness efforts and urged greater, sustained access to mental‑health programming for both clinical and clerical staff. Pinto closed the roundtable portion by inviting written testimony for the record through Feb. 25 and by transitioning the committee to formal oversight hearings for other public safety agencies.