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Governor Abolishes Office of Medical Examiner

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The Office of Chief Medical Examiner is no more in Delaware.

Governor Jack Markell signed legislation yesterday that replaces it with a new crime testing division that comes under the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

He put his signature on the measure shortly after the state House of Representatives passed the legislation on a 35-to-4 vote.

The law was opposed by trial lawyers and the National Association of Medical Examiners who worried about a conflict of interest because it is being moved over to a law enforcement agency.

The move comes after it was discovered that there was evidence tampering or theft at the drug testing lab.

The Medical Examiner has been suspended with pay while two other employees have been arrested.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.