Amend Gets New Office Next Week Coroner Moved Because Of Security Concerns

Fearing the coroner’s controversial views could make him a target, Spokane County officials Friday began readying a more secure office for Dexter Amend.

Amend and his staff will move behind metal detectors into the courthouse on Tuesday or Wednesday in a second-floor office now used by the state auditor’s office.

The auditor’s staff was to move into Amend’s first-floor office across the street in the Broadway Centre building owned by the county.

But that office is too small, so the auditors will move to the fourth floor of the Broadway Centre.

While he has received no threats, Amend’s persistent questioning about sexual habits of the deceased have enraged surviving family members.

Critics charge he is using his office to rail against homosexuality, masturbation and alcohol. He asked one young boy if his dead brother, a fire victim, ever masturbated.

“It just seemed they (Amend’s staff) were nervous, especially after some of the phone calls they’ve been getting. They’ve been sworn at,” Commissioner John Roskelley said.

“Just to be on the safe side,” Roskelley said, “perhaps we should bring Dr. Amend and his staff into a secure area.”

Coroner’s staff assistant Anne Franks said Amend was refusing to answer any questions except in writing. She said the move would take place by the middle of next week.

Roskelley said he considered moving the coroner after a KREM-TV camera crew recently walked into Amend’s office unimpeded.

“It’s obvious anybody could walk in there and there could be some problems,” the commissioner said.

There is no metal detector or security staff in the Broadway Centre, but such measures were installed last year in the courthouse following a shooting in Seattle.

The security measures cost county taxpayers about $258,000 a year.

Courthouse employees are not rolling out the welcome mat for the embattled coroner.

One worker, who was interviewed under the condition of anonymity, said the county shelled out a “ton of money” to renovate the morgue at Holy Family Hospital.

“That’s where Dexter should be,” the employee said.

Bill Keenan, the head of the county employees union, said Amend’s actions are not only an inconvenience to workers but also pose a safety risk.

“We’re all going to have to worry if someone is going to go off on him,” Keenan said.

“In light of everything he has said and done, it would be best for all county employees if he resigned,” he said. “He has made all these outrageous comments, inexcusable comments.

“He’s created his own nightmare and now it’s going to be a burden for the rest of us because he can’t conduct himself in a professional manner.”

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The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = J. Todd Foster staff writer Staff writer Jeanette White contributed to this report.