10. Citizens’ Complaints Committee

Recommendations 3

• R1

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  the medical examiner’s jurisdiction is accepted
• R2

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  the coroner’s authorization is granted
• R3

  Page 218
  or the receipt of an externally referred decedent 7.2 Address the need for more Forensic Pathologists. Increase the starting salaries to be comparable to those in private practice. Consider providing subsidized housing. 7.3 Address the deficiency caused by the delay in the release of decedents from the hospital, once the physician calls the time of death, and the release of the decedent from the hospital to the coroner. 7.4 The CEO and DHR should work with DME-C to explore: 1) Easing of Banding selections beyond “V” and Band 1 to help recruiting and hiring of Coroner Investigator Trainees 2) helping fill lower level support staff positions 3) filling technical positions as a priority 4) working with DHS Human Resources to accelerate the application process necessary to fill vacant positions 5) creating a strong relationship with local colleges and universities for greater exposure to job opportunities. 7.5 DHS should provide Hospital Administrators enough staffing for the ODA unit regarding mortuary attendants, mortuary aids and crematory operators. Provide three new Morgue Vans and staffing for transportation and pick-up of decedents. DHS should provide adequate, clearly marked, parking spaces at the loading dock for the Office of Decedent Affairs (ODA) to address delivery and pick-up of decedents. Provide three new crematory retorts to replace the end of life retorts now in use 7.6 Replace the existing outdoors Office of Decedent Affairs (ODA) Crypt containers with an in-house storage Crypt for all un-claimed and unidentified decedents. The ODA Refrigerant Units need to be upgraded or replaced with more modern and technically advanced units. 7.7 Provide a stable modernized efficient version of CME (case management enterprise) to replace the current inadequate and outdated version. Provide a modernized efficient Case Management System (CMS). Provide additional personnel for project management, implementation and maintenance of the new case management system. 7.8 CEO should consider outsourcing a cohort of cases to private forensic laboratories. This cohort could consist of the victims of automobile collisions, suspected drug overdoses, auto versus pedestrian deaths and other overt causes. 7.9 The B.O.S. and CEO should study the need for a capital project regarding replacing or remodeling the Coroner’s current facility. This new facility would consolidate all operations under one roof. It could be funded as was the new Los Angeles Hertzberg Davis Forensic Laboratory with a State Bond Issue and perhaps additional funding from USC, Los Angeles County and the Keck Foundation. 200 2017-2018 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT