EDMOND —
To the Editor:
I was surprised and disappointed to read in The Edmond Sun that Paul Blair, a candidate for Senate District 41, was opposed to the legislative resolution to fund the move of Oklahoma’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to Edmond. Two years ago the Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill directing the Medical Examiner’s office to be moved to Edmond and located near the Forensic Science Institute and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Building a new Medical Examiner’s facility and the move to Edmond has been a high priority of the Edmond Area of Chamber of Commerce, Edmond Economic Development Authority, the University of Central Oklahoma, OSBI, district attorneys and Oklahoma law enforcement officers. Thanks to the efforts of Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, and the Edmond legislative delegation, through this resolution we now have a pathway to finance the move using the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education real property Master Lease Program and constructing the building on the UCO campus where Forensic Science and Funeral Science students can observe and intern.
The Medical Examiner is responsible for medicolegal death investigations to determine the cause and manner of death in violent, unexpected, suspicious or unattended deaths. With the constant threat of worldwide terrorism, infectious diseases, pandemics and catastrophic climatic vents, the practice of conducting medicolegal death investigations has changed dramatically.
For most of us, knowledge about this function of state government comes from what we have seen on television or read in crime novels. This work is very complex. Medical Examiner pathologists must be highly trained and have the proper facilities and equipment to conduct these complicated autopsy examinations. They are seeking the truth of why the death occurred.
Operations of the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are not visible to most Oklahomans unless we have a member of our family or friend meet with a violent or unexplained death. The office has been historically underfunded and is in deplorable condition. With poor ventilation, inadequate space and outdated equipment, it is almost impossible to attract professional pathologists and technicians to work in the present office.
Today’s examiners and technicians need modern laboratories, instruments, Xrays, digital photography and imaging and high-speed cameras. The forensic application of emerging science and technology is constant and the CSI-savvy public expects no less than a 21st century Medical Examiner program.
At last we have a chance to correct this wrong.
I hope that as Blair becomes more familiar with the history and function of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, he will join those who support this move. It will be good for Edmond and for the people of Oklahoma.
W. Roger Webb
Edmond
W. ROGER WEBB is president emeritus of the University of Central Oklahoma.
Letters to the Editor
LETTER: Webb reiterates need for ME’s office to move to Edmond
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Oklahoma cannot stand alone
o the Editors:
President Obama visited Oklahoma on Sunday. He assured us that Oklahoma would receive every support needed to rebuild after our devastating storm. Gov. Fallin told reporters that she would “hold his feet to the fire.” Ask the people of Missouri or in New Jersey if the president needs to have his feet held to the fire!
This was the second time for President Obama to visit Oklahoma. In March of 2012, no Oklahoma top official greeted our president. Choosing to snub our president, Gov. Mary Fallin left for a family vacation in Puerto Rico and Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb attended a conference in Washington. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett did greet the president on his arrival at Tinker Air Force Base. Thank you, Mayor Cornett, for your respect and sense of protocol! - LETTER: Words of comfort for the many recent storm victims
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Senators give criminals a pass
Oklahoma’s U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe were among 45 senators who recently helped block a sensible measure to reduce gun violence. Specifically, they voted down a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers — a step favored by 86 percent of Americans, according to recent polls. Our senators were not even asked to vote for tougher measures like bans on military-type assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, also favored by 56 percent of Americans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
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LETTER: Senators give criminals a pass
To the Editor:
Oklahoma’s U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe were among 45 senators who recently helped block a sensible measure to reduce gun violence. Specifically, they voted down a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers — a step favored by 86 percent of Americans, according to recent polls. Our senators were not even asked to vote for tougher measures like bans on military-type assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, also favored by 56 percent of Americans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
By opposing background checks for gun buyers, Sens. Coburn and Inhofe voted in favor of allowing the mentally ill and criminals to buy guns! They call it “Second Amendment” rights. I call it cash for their campaigns from the gun lobby. -
LETTER: Postal carriers seek to ‘Stamp out Hunger’
To the Editor:
On Saturday, help your letter carrier “Stamp Out Hunger” by leaving canned food donations by your mailbox. In Edmond, donations benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s partner agencies HOPE Center of Edmond, Route 66 Project and Edmond Grace Fellowship. This effort is part of the 21st annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, which is the largest one-day food drive in America. -
LETTER: Unanswered prayer leads to lower taxes, honorable policy makers
To the Editor:
In a recent column, Oklahoma Rep. Jason Murphy (“How a no vote solved gas tax problem,” The Edmond Sun, April 30, 2013) commended the wise and educated voters of Oklahoma for seeing through the 2005 fuel tax increase and demanding more action of our state policy makers. With the recent work of our elected officials, along with the Department of Transportation, our roads and bridges have seen much improvement during the past couple of years. -
LETTER: Senate bills will help veterans living in centers
To the Editor:
I just viewed a short video done by Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie who recounts the rescue of downed Vietnam pilot RogerLocher in April 1972. Ritchie said that Loche’s rescue was the farthest behind enemy lines and superceded all air operations that day. -
LETTER: President: OneNet saves UCO money
To the Editor:
Discussion continues in The Edmond Sun publications regarding upgrading and consolidating information technology resources in state government. While I respect the viewpoint that has been expressed so far, certain facts should be taken into consideration that directly affect the University of Central Oklahoma and the 17,000 students we serve. -
Bond debt not an unpardonable sin
Is Oklahoma bond indebtedness for Oklahoma infrastructure an unpardonable sin? No! Rep. Jason Murphey wrote a good op ed dealing with what he bemoans as oppressive state bond debt. He calculates each Oklahoman owes $649 in state debt. He and the rest of the ultra-fiscal conservatives can’t bring themselves to support bonds to pay for the state Capitol repairs, building a medical examiner’s office or other legitimate capital expenditures. So using his logic I decided to apply that thinking to my personal and business life.
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Senate bill potentially denies women’s rights
Once again, our state Legislature is moving toward passage of another bill that will not stand up to a court challenge because it is contrary to federal law. It also follows the pattern of many of these failed laws in that it attempts to limit the choices women have in our state.
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Oklahoma cannot stand alone
