PORT ANGELES — Clallam County is moving closer to launching an independent coroner’s office, following voter approval of a county charter amendment last fall.
County officials told commissioners this week that a draft ordinance is nearly ready to formally create a standalone Department of Coroner, separate from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The change follows updated legal guidance from the Attorney General’s Office, which found the county’s former practice — using the prosecutor as coroner — was no longer legally sound.
County Administrator Todd Mielke says creating the department could come through a formal resolution. He also noted there are already staff performing the coroner duties in the interim.
“From what I understand, this is more properly handled through a resolution. That way, should there ever be a vacancy in the future, we’re dealing with it through a resolution as opposed to going back through a more process-oriented amendment to an ordinance. And we certainly recognize that this is a unique position — with unique requirements, backgrounds, and training — and we believe that we’ve had very capable people working to fulfill these activities on behalf of Clallam County,” said Mielke.
Officials say the resolution could be introduced as early as the second week of March.
District Court Judge Dave Neupert has been operating as the county coroner in the interim.