Brazos County now runs its own medical examiner's office, and the doctor in charge says the first weeks have been calmer than she expected.
Dr. Jennifer Dierksen officially became the county's first chief medical examiner on Oct. 1, the start of the county's fiscal year, The Eagle reported Wednesday. She had served as the office's forensic pathologist while the 22,084-square-foot building, which cost $33.8 million, was staffed and outfitted. The facility opened Sept. 1, and its first autopsy took place over Labor Day weekend.
The office took in eight cases in its first month and performed autopsies in roughly two-thirds of them, Dierksen told the newspaper. She said funeral homes had also described it as a slow month.
What changes for death investigations
Before the switch, justices of the peace had to consent to autopsies and co-sign death records. Under the medical examiner system, Dierksen said, her office can open death investigations and hold inquests on its own authority and can sign death certificates and reports without a justice of the peace. Cases the justices authorized before the office took over will still be closed out by them.
Staffing and teaching plans
Six people currently work at the office: Dierksen, a receptionist, two investigators, a technician and an office manager. Dierksen said she hopes to post an opening for another investigator this month, add one more investigator next year and fill a few other positions after that.
The building was designed with an academic role in mind, and that piece is starting to take shape. Dierksen said two fourth-year medical students from Texas A&M will begin electives at the office in early spring.
