PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners are moving forward with the process of selecting the county’s first appointed coroner, following voter approval of a major change to how the position is filled.
Under the new system, approved in the 2025 general election, the elected prosecutor will no longer serve as coroner. Instead, commissioners will appoint someone to lead the office — using a formal screening process outlined in county code.
At a work session this week, Human Resources Director Bonnie Dennler laid out that process, including forming a screening committee and setting hiring criteria.
“This request is coming — it is related to Ordinance 1037. That was the ordinance adopted on March 31st, in which, through the 2025 general election, electors voted to remove the county prosecutor as the coroner and to move forward with the ability for the county commissioners to appoint a coroner,” Dennler told commissioners.
Dennler says the county has already developed a job description and recruitment strategy, calling for a two-to-four week hiring window and a panel to review applicants.
That proposed screening committee includes a Superior Court judge, the county prosecutor, the county administrator, and the HR director.
Commissioners also reviewed detailed qualifications for the role — which go well beyond minimum standards in many counties.
“This screening criteria — I did work with the Judge Neupert (who is currently acting as coroner), and then also reviewed for best practice, just from an overall market standpoint, in terms of screening criteria to be used as part of the recruitment,” said Dennler.
According to the supporting documents, candidates would be expected to have national death investigator certification, advanced education in forensic science or a related field, and at least ten years of experience in death investigations.
The coroner will oversee all death investigations in the county, including cases that are sudden, suspicious, or violent, and manage a 24/7 operation that may involve on-call response and coordination with law enforcement and medical agencies.
Commissioners are expected to finalize the screening committee and criteria before launching the recruitment process in the coming weeks.