Polk County cuts ties with medical examiners, pays $327K severance
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Polk County supervisors approved severance packages for three doctors in its medical examiner's office this month that officially ends their employment with the county by Feb. 20, according to documents obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The move will cost the county nearly $327,000 but could help state and county governments improve staff efficiency and reduce future expenses related to updating or building new exam areas, per supervisor's Chairperson Matt McCoy.
State of play: This is the second major shakeup in Polk County's government recently.
- Administrator John Norris, a former Iowa Democratic Party chairperson, has been on paid administrative leave for almost a month as newly elected Supervisors Jill Altringer and Mark Holm, both Republicans, continue to seek his resignation.
Catch up quick: Polk County fired longtime medical examiner Gregory Schmunk in 2020 for lack of oversight regarding personnel issues.
- Schmunk said at the time his termination was linked to longstanding issues among investigators in the office.
Yes, but: Despite the office's challenges during his tenure, the county rehired Schmunk last year as an associate medical examiner to fill a gap during a national shortage of forensic pathologists.
The intrigue: In 2021, the county paid $200,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by a 2017 job applicant who alleged he was not offered employment in the medical examiner's office because of his sexuality.
Driving the news: Polk County recently hired Rory Deol, an associate state medical examiner, as its chief medical examiner. Acting county administrator Frank Marasco tells Axios it was a business decision.
- Supervisors approved severances on Jan. 14 for Joseph Blitman — the most recent medical examiner who has worked for the county for about a year — plus deputy chief medical examiner Amanda Moreno and Schmunk.
What they're saying: McCoy declined to comment about the severances.
- The office is essentially starting anew, and supervisors are hopeful that Deol will work closely with the state medical examiner's office, he tells Axios.
The other side: Schmunk tells Axios that he's optimistic about Deol but cautions that Polk County should retain its independent medical examiner system.
- Merging the morgue from DSM to the state's center in Ankeny would move the services further away from multiple hospital systems and could create more significant waits during investigations, Schmunk says.
What's next: There is currently no timeline for potential collaborations between Polk County and the state's medical examiner offices, including a possible morgue merger, but McCoy said further discussions are likely in the coming months.
- Deol starts Friday and will be paid $380,000 a year.