Bill Would Eliminate County Coroner Legislation Comes As Dexter Amend Finds Himself In Hot Water Once Again

A bill to allow Spokane County to replace its embattled coroner with an appointed medical examiner passed out of committee Friday with a unanimous vote on its way to the House floor.

Spokane County Coroner Dexter Amend is the target of a recall attempt and has drawn heavy criticism for asking grieving family members about the sexual habits of the deceased.

Most recently, Amend was accused of asking the family of 11-year-old fire victim Jeffery Himes if the boy masturbated or had sex with other boys. Preliminary autopsy results show Himes died from smoke inhalation.

“This unfortunate incident may have helped us pass the bill,” said Rep. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane.

Brown said the bill, HB 2398, is aimed at improving the quality of forensic medicine in Spokane County, not at Amend. But it could eliminate his job.

“In light of the statements of our current coroner, the advantages of the medical examiner system should be obvious,” Brown said.

Rep. Dennis Dellwo, D-Spokane, said one advantage of the measure is that an appointed medical examiner could be fired for misconduct.

“It doesn’t solve shooting off your mouth,” Dellwo said. “Hopefully they would pick someone who would be more sensitive.”

The elected coroner cannot be fired, only recalled by the voters, and doesn’t have to have any medical expertise. A medical examiner routinely is appointed and must be trained in death investigation.

The bill has bipartisan support, and is tailored narrowly to affect only counties with a population over 250,000. Other counties that size have charters that already allow for an appointed medical examiner.

The bill would require Spokane County voters to approve changing to a medical examiner before one is appointed.

Sen. John Moyer, R-Spokane, a long-time Spokane physician, supports the measure.

“What we are trying to do is serve the public good,” Moyer said. “He (Amend) seems to be on a path that doesn’t serve the public good.”

Moyer said he expects the bill to pass both houses and become law this session.

Sen. Jim West, R-Spokane, said a better solution would be for Spokane County to change its own charter to allow appointment of a medical examiner and other officials now elected.

“Treasurer, assessor and coroner are not policy-making positions, they should be hired by the county,” West said.

West said voters at this point would be better served by a recall vote rather than having the coroner position eliminated by state lawmakers.

“I don’t think you can change the job just because a guy is out to lunch,” West said. “If the people want to get rid of Dexter, they should with a recall.”

Spokane County Commissioner Steve Hasson said the county supports the bill and is willing to pay more money for a qualified medical examiner.

“If you have someone in there that doesn’t have the abilities or is a liability through his actions, that can cost the county more money than hiring a qualified medical examiner,” Hasson said. “You get what you pay for.”

Chris Christenson, a retired teacher, is leading the fight to recall Amend. The coroner is appealing a judge’s ruling to allow the recall to proceed.

Christenson said the medical examiner bill couldn’t have come at a better time. “Hey, we need one,” he said. “We need a qualified medical examiner as soon as possible.”

The bill could pass the House next week and then go to the Senate.

Amend, through his secretary, declined comment.

, DataTimes