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Sheriff to cover for coroner's office cuts
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - January 12, 2011)
Sheriff to cover for coroner's office cuts
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The Geauga County Sheriff's Department will assume the roles of coroner investigators as the county looks to cut costs in a down economy.
"We're ready to provide assistance," said Sheriff Daniel McClelland, whose office will use deputies to perform investigations into deaths in the county.
The switch in services is necessary after the county laid off two employees in the coroner's office.
Mr. McClelland said he does not expect the additional roles for deputies to affect services. He said deputies are typically at the scene of deaths and may be just obligated to take more photographs than they normally do.
He said it's not uncommon in Ohio for the sheriff's departments to play such a role. Deputies already are obligated to assist under state law for breaches of the peace, which would apply in the case of a body being found, Mr. McClelland said. "It may take a little more time, but it won't be a significant amount."
He said the coroner will respond as he has done so in the past.
Any costs associated with the new role will be charged to the coroner's office, he said.
Mr. McClelland said the cost to operate the coroner's office is among the highest in the state when the cost per resident is considered. He said his office will be able to take on the duties without adding personnel.
Mr. McClelland said his office will assist any county department or local community when it is needed. He said deputies may respond to police calls in Bainbridge, for example, if that police department needs the help. The sheriff's maintenance garage also performs work on county department vehicles.
Geauga County Commissioner Mary Samide said the layoffs in the coroner's office were necessary to cut costs.
The two employees, John Hopkins and Gregg Boyles, could challenge the layoffs, and commissioners have asked the courts for authorization to hire outside legal representation to assist, if necessary, she said.
Mrs. Samide said the two employees have claimed they were part of a union, but there is no evidence they ever paid union dues.
She said cutting the two employees from the coroner's office saves the county $200,000 per year.
She said both men performed their jobs admirably, but the economics would not allow them to be retained. The county has seen a drop in revenues from $32 million to $25 million or $26 million, and cuts became necessary.
She said the coroner's office was not the only one impacted by the cuts. She said the county's building department had to reduce personnel as did the county planning department, which now consists of only the director and a secretary.
"If we don't have the money to make the budget, there'll be more cuts," Mrs. Samide said.
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