HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1979-024ti
1 DATE July 19, 1979 INTRODUCED BY: Roehl
PROPOSED BY: Roehl
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3 ORDINANCE NO. 79 -24
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AN ORDINANCE REGARDING THE DUTIES AND
5 FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER
AND DELEGATING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
6 THE PROPERTY OF THE DECEASED TO THE
COUNTY SHERIFF.
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WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Home Rule Charter
8 in Section 3.62 established the Office of
County Medical Examiner; and, whereas, that
9 section, in addition to establishing said
office, required that responsibility for
10 property of the deceased be delegated to
an office other than the Medical Examiner,
11 and
12 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS:
13 SECTION 1. The County Medical Examiner shall be appointed by
14 the County Executive from applicants approved by the Whatcom County)
15 Medical Society and the County Sheriff and shall be confirmed by
16 the County Council. The Medical Examiner shall have an M. D. or
17 D. O. degree and be licensed to practice medicine in the State of
18 Washington.
19 SECTION II. The Medical Examiner shall be responsible for
20 the administration and staffing of the Office, should same become
21 necessary; provided, however, that any employee of such office
22 shall be subject to all applicable Whatcom County Personnel Rules;
23 SECTION III. The Medical Examiner shall. assume jurisdiction
24 over human remains, perform autopsies, and perform such other
25 functions as are authorized by RCW 68.09 except for those duties
26 and functions relating to the personal property of the deceased as
27 delineated by RCW 68.08.040 and RCW 36.24.130, and shall be
28 authorized to institute such other procedures and /or policies to
29 insure investigation into the death of persons coming under the
30 jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner, including, but not limited
31 to, the holding of an Inquest pursuant to Chapter RCW 36.24 and
32 other relevant statutes in the State of Washington;
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SECTION IV. The duties and functions relating to the personal
property of the deceased referred to above shall be the responsi_
bility of the Whatcom County Sheriff' Office. Nothing contained
herein shall alter the duties as outlined by State Law of the
County Treasurer in regards to such personal property;
SECTION V. Duplicate lists of all jewelry, monies, papers
and other personal property of the deceased shall be made immedi-
ately upon finding the same by the County Sheriff. The original
of such lists shall be kept as a public record at the Sheriff's
Office and the duplicate thereof shallbe forthwith duly certified
to by the Sheriff and filed with the County Auditor.
- SECTION VI. The County Sheriff must within thirty days after
the inquest upon a dead body, deliver to the County Treasurer any
money or other property which may be found upon the body, unless
be claimed in the meantime by the legal representatives of the
deceased. If he fails to do so, the Treasurer may proceed against
the County Sheriff to recover the same by Civil action in the name
of the County.
SECTION VII. The notice required by RCW 68.08.020 shall be
given to the Medical Examiner.
SECTION VIII. State Laws which apply or refer to the Office
of County Coroner shall hereafter apply to the Medical Examiner,
and the Medical Examiner shall have those powers, duties, and
functions as provided by State Law except as otherwise provided
for herein.
PASSED this 2nd day of August, 1979.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, W4SHINGTON
-A (—'41 4 ax:)
Attest: Joan Ogden Vice � Wa i'a an
County Auditor & Ex- officio
Cler of t e Council
By: VA-u
eputy
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Appr ve as to for .
Ci i.l Depu y rosecuting Attorney
Approved ( ) Vetoed
/cL- V 4 X4-�
John /ouws, Executive
Published July 26
DATE ,o 7
and August 9, 1979.