Vitale Statement on Signing of Legislation to Overhaul State Medical Examiner System

TRENTON – Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizen’s Committee Chair Joseph F. Vitale issued the following statement on the enactment of legislation he sponsored to overhaul the State Medical Examiner system and improve accountability, training and the quality of investigations:

I welcome the governor’s actions in signing these long-overdue and desperately-needed reforms to a medical examiner system that’s been fragmented, mismanaged, under-resourced and overworked.  Today’s enactment will empower the medical examiner with the capability for central oversight, adequate staffing, sufficient funding, higher standards and enhanced quality control, and will bring closure and comfort to families who have been mourning without answers.

After fighting for years to pass this legislation, I am grateful that our system – so important to law enforcement and to the families that have lost loved ones – will become respected throughout our country as a model of professionalism.