Fresno coroner maintains turning morgue over to sheriff is a mistake

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Every year, this morgue takes in the bodies of about 1,400 victims of sudden or unexplained death in Fresno County. The pathologists determine cause of death -- heart attack caused by smoking is the number one reason. Bodies of crime victims make up just a fraction of the investigations. There were about 80 in the past year.

But on January 1st, the morgue becomes a law enforcement operation -- part of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. It's a move the outgoing coroner, Dr. David Hadden, thinks it's a bad idea.

"It's a whole different attitude. It's not law enforcement, it is medicine," said Hadden.

But a majority of the Board of Supervisors decided to make the change, claiming it's the way most of California's 58 counties do it. But nearly all of the counties who use the old-fashioned sheriff coroner system are much smaller than Fresno. Most larger counties have an independent coroner. The other claim was it could save money. But Supervisor Henry Perea says that's not the case. Under the plan, a captain in the sheriff's department will replace Hadden, who is a medical doctor.

"No question that it's going to cost us more money and I think most importantly it takes away the independence that office had that really brought it to be its own department in 1977," said Perea.

Perea was the lone vote against removing the elected coroner position. He and Hadden both agree having law enforcement in charge of autopsies could taint investigations of crimes and officer-involved shootings. That's the reason why back in 1977, then Sheriff Hal McKinney fought to get the coroner's office out from under from the sheriff's department. Hadden believes the potential for conflict is greater now than ever.

"They may not even realize that they are engaging in conflict of interest because they are so focused on getting a conviction or getting the bad guy; where we are not focused on getting the bad guy, we are focused on getting the facts," said Hadden.

Hadden notes the recent nationwide protests over police killings of suspects as a reason to make sure investigations into such deaths are as independent as possible.

David Hadden is 78. He served 30 years as Fresno County coroner, elected eight times by the people. He says he's looking forward to retirement, but hopes to someday see the morgue restored as a medical, rather than law enforcement facility.

Perea says the issue could be revisited when two new members of the Board of Supervisors are in place next year.