(Spirit Lake)– Dickinson County now has a Deputy Medical Examiner, pending formal approval by the State of Iowa. The Board of Supervisors Tuesday appointed Dr. Steve Vander Leest to the position. He’ll serve as a back up to the county’s head Medical Examiner, Dr. Brett Olson, when he’s out of town or not available.
Supervisor Kim Wermersen says the deputy position is needed for one reason in particular…
“What we found out and we got a call from one of the funeral directors is that when there is a cremation that is required, they need a signature pretty quickly and if the Medical Examiner is out of the county, it’s very difficult to get that and puts them in a pickle.”
Wermersen says the Deputy Medical Examiner will also assist Jarrod Fischer and Chad Niemeyer who are medical examiner inspectors for Dickinson county.
