By Kelley Weiss
Kansas City, MO – The Jackson County Medical Examiner is resigning his post after almost 12 years of service to go into private practice. The other two county forensic pathologists are leaving as well, which will leave the office that performs autopsies and works with the police department on death investigations empty. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.
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Dr. Thomas Young says he's leaving his job at the end of the month as Jackson County Medical Examiner to work as an independent forensic pathologist, which is a higher paying job with more flexible hours. The county's Deputy Medical Examiner is expected to join Young's practice while the other pathologist in the office is also leaving.
Incoming Jackson County Executive, Mike Sanders, will appoint a replacement for Young and is prepared to replace the whole staff if needed.
Ken Evans, a spokesperson for the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office and Sanders, says it's a top priority to fill the medical examiner's position, especially in a year with 100 murders reported across the county.
Ken Evans: "Jackson County is a large urban and suburban county that has its fair share of crime. We definitely need to have that position in place and there to be no time lag."
Evans says Sanders is doing a national search for candidates and plans to hire a new medical examiner by the beginning of January.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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