Another key law enforcement race involves the Lake County coroner’s office.

Another key law enforcement race involves the Lake County coroner’s office.


Nine months ago, Artis Yancey took over for Richard Keller, who pleaded guilty to two felonies.

The candidates addressed whether the coroner should be a medical professional.

Democrat Thomas Rudd, a licensed physician, said he would like to turn the coroner’s office into a medical examiner’s office.

“it has never been run by a pathologist,” he said, adding that every major city has a medical examiner’s office rather than a coroner system, which is an antiquated system.

Democrat Yancey, former Waukegan police chief, however, said that traditionally the coroner has not been a medical professional. By statute he said it is a law enforcement position.

Republican Steve Newton, former chief deputy coroner in Lake County, agreed with Yancey, adding that autopsies can only be performed by a certified forensic pathologist.

But even if a certified forensic pathologist were elected coroner, by state statute he could not perform autopsies because of a conflict of interest.

Republican Howard Cooper, a dentist, said having a medical background puts him at an advantage, because he has performed autopsies and can also talk to pathologists and explain in laymen’s terms to law enforcement officials.


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