OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

As provided by Section 59.34 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the mission of the Medical Examiner’s office is to ensure the safety, health and welfare of the community by identifying and documenting issues regarding public health as well as the criminal justice system. The office investigates all types of deaths within Racine County. The staff also signs all the necessary papers for cremations, disinterment, death certificates, and other documents related to death; testifies at various court trials when requested to do so; and meets with agencies and families to review cases.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES

• Initiated a DNA Program to obtain a DNA card on all males from 6-60, to enable the courts to establish paternity in child support cases.
• Despite the office’s being shorthanded, the Medical Examiner successfully became recertified in the American Board of Medico legal Death Investigation.
• Restructured the Deputies so that there is no longer a full-time Chief Deputy position.
• Began paying Deputies for being on call and when they go on calls, not bi-weekly.
• Established a full-time Senior Clerk Steno position, so that someone is still in the office if the Medical Examiner is out.

2005 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES

• Continue to send our Deputies to as much training as possible to maintain high skill levels.
• Continue to carefully manage the office’s budget to give Racine County the most for its money.
• Continue our in-service presentations for Police and Fire-Rescue Departments in Racine County.
• Attempt to participate in outside lectures as our time permits.
• Hire and train a sixth part-time Deputy, to permit better distribution of the caseload.
• Strive to lower the number of unclaimed bodies, to reduce costs borne by Racine County.