Relationships with Other Agencies and the Coroner's Office
It is essential the Mesa County Coroner’s Office have a respectful relationship with other entities in the county, state and even nationally.
- Local law enforcement agencies depend on the Coroner’s Office to conduct a comprehensive and competent death investigation:
- Personnel must interact appropriately with the law enforcement agencies and provide results in a timely manner.
- The District Attorney’s Office is another entity the Mesa County Coroner’s Office often interacts with:
- Some deaths will result in cases going to court and the results of the Coroner’s Office’s investigation and autopsy may be discussed in the court of law:
- Forensic pathologist performing the autopsy
- Often the individual testifying in court and therefore
- The pathologist should be readily available to testify,
- Skilled in providing information in court and
- Be able to interact appropriately with attorney’s, the judge and the jury
- Some deaths will result in cases going to court and the results of the Coroner’s Office’s investigation and autopsy may be discussed in the court of law:
- There are many other agencies and individuals who rely on the Mesa County Coroner for accurate and timely information including the:
- Public Defender’s Office.
- Other attorneys’ offices.
- Mesa County Health Department.
- State Health Department.
- Local organizations, such as the Suicide Coalition.
- Local committees, such as the Child Fatality Review Committee.
- Most importantly, the family of the decedents they investigate.
- The Coroner’s Office should also be at the forefront and assisting all these other agencies and individuals:
- Mass disasters
- Infectious disease outbreaks, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.
