Albany CountyThursday, November 5
Albany County voters approve replacing coroners with a medical examiner
The Daily Albany team
If you've ever wondered who investigates a sudden death in the county, that's changing. More than 60% of voters approved swapping the county's coroners for an appointed medical examiner, according to unofficial results from the Albany County Board of Elections.
It won't happen overnight. The coroner stays in place until the medical examiner is appointed, and County Health Commissioner Dr. Kristen Navarette said the transition can take up to two months as it passes the final legislative steps.
Albany County voters said yes to a medical examiner
- More than 60%
- of voters approved, in unofficial results
- 4
- elected, part-time coroners to be replaced
- 6 years
- term for the chief medical examiner
Source: WAMC Northeast Public Radio
- Chief medical examiner: full-time licensed physician trained in forensic pathology
- Appointed by the county executive; the Legislature confirms
- Staff: one medical examiner and several death investigators
- County is talking about sharing resources with a neighboring county
Cost is the open question. The county first estimated the office would add $935,000 a year, and some legislators worried it could run higher, especially on salaries for the three proposed death investigators.
$935,000a year in added cost, the county's original estimate
That was the County Executive's Office's first estimate of what switching to a medical examiner would cost.
Source: WAMC Northeast Public Radio
Sources: NEWS10 ABC, WAMC Northeast Public Radio