Webb pursues ME’s office move

James Coburn
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND July 09, 2009 12:58 am

— The University of Central Oklahoma is ready and willing if the state Legislature chooses this next legislative session to move the office of state medical examiner to Edmond.
“Working to bring the state medical examiner’s office to Edmond would create a unique presence of laboratories and forensic specialty facilities to compliment the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Forensic Science Center and the UCO Forensics Science Institute,” UCO President W. Roger Webb told The Edmond Sun this week.
Webb lobbied the state Legislature last session to bring the state medical examiner’s office to Edmond. Senate Bill 738 would require the medical examiner’s office to be located in close proximity to the OSBI Forensic Science Center and the UCO Forensics Science Institute.
Lawmakers failed in finding common ground to pass SB 738 this spring.
SB 738 would require that the medical examiner’s office remain independent from all other state agencies, said Nancy Nichols, director of governmental relations for the City of Edmond. It also would give the governor the responsibility of appointing a chief administrative officer. The Oklahoma Capital Improvement Authority would issue $30 million in bond for completion of the laboratory.
State Reps. Mike Ritze and Doug Cox, the only physicians serving in the state Legislature, attempted to kill the bill in committee this past legislative session. Cox argued the ME’s office should remain on the campus of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge are co-authors of the bill. Benge has said that he considers it a public safety issue and vital for the public to have full confidence in the operation of the office.
Webb said he would support an ME board independent of UCO but able to work with the university for the betterment of both entities. UCO would provide a helpful “umbrella” in light of accreditation issues. Medical examiners would have opportunities to teach on campus and utilize UCO’s library, Webb said.
“If the Legislature wants that to happen and can ensure an independent appropriations stream to the ME’s office, we certainly would consider having them come under the university,” Webb said.
Space available at the OSBI office possibly could eliminate the need for a separate pathology lab to be constructed as part of a new ME office in Edmond, Webb said.
“I don’t know that the ME’s office should be under the University of Central Oklahoma,” he said. “This is not something we covet.”
The ME’s office recently lost its accreditation with the National Association of Medical Examiners. The association issued a report noting the deficiencies result from an inadequate staff due to a lack of funding. Also, the agency’s equipment and facilities are obsolete, the association’s report stated.
“It’s embarrassing as a state to have this really necessary function of state government that investigates sudden deaths to have (been) neglected,” Webb said. “… It goes back a long time. And I can tell you it was an embarrassment 30 years ago.”
Webb often interfaced with the Medical Examiner’s office when he served as commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. Webb said he understands the synergy of law enforcement, OSBI scientists and academics.
“I may be the only college president that certainly headed the state police agency,” Webb said.
Doing the work of medical examiner while dealing with budgets and the Legislature can be cumbersome, he added. So when it comes to the ME’s office, physicians have understandably proven themselves to be better doctors than financial and business managers, Webb said.
Meanwhile, the office’s new director, Dr. Collie M. Trant, is working to resolve the ME’s deficiencies, said Webb, along with State Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond.
“I think we finally got a leader in the ME’s office,” he said.
Jolley said bringing the ME’s office to the UCO campus would be a practical solution for the problems that have plagued it. No meaningful investment in the facility has been made since 1989, he added. The state agency needs a new facility, personnel and modern equipment, he said.
“I think we owe it to the families of the deceased, who are wanting answers, to make sure the people who perpetrated their crimes are discovered, found out and put behind bars.”
SB 738 will be considered during the next legislative session, said Jolley, who carried the bill for Coffee.
“My hope would be that we would get something meaningful accomplished. I think that’s the goal,” Jolley said.