Hardy
As Christmas 2024 approaches, I find myself reflecting on the things I’m thankful for. This year, one of those things is that my office is on the verge of moving into its first-ever purpose-built facility.
It’s wild to think that this project has spanned almost my entire first term as coroner. From an initial idea to developing a plan, seeking approval, and now building—this journey has been deeply personal for me.
But seeing all that hard work and effort take shape, I can say with certainty that the people and families we serve will benefit immensely. I visit the building site several times a week as we near completion.
Currently, my office is housed in the KeyBank building, we conduct autopsies at Witham, and evidence and property are stored both at our office and at the Boone County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).
When you walk into the new building, you’ll enter the office area, which will house our staff. This space includes offices and a conference room for meetings and training.
Importantly, this area provides private spaces where we can meet with families. For the first time, we will have a dedicated space to facilitate viewings of loved ones in a comforting and controlled environment.
We’ve never had this capability before, and I am incredibly grateful to offer this to families.
When it’s time to conduct a forensic exam in the new facility, our staff will enter the locker room and change into appropriate personal protective equipment.
From there, they can directly access the state-of-the-art autopsy suite. This room has been designed with function in mind, and we’ve collaborated closely with our forensic pathology team to ensure the layout is optimized.
I think many people would be surprised by how often our cases intersect with law enforcement. Capturing scientific evidence is crucial for our law enforcement partners and the prosecutor’s office.
To enhance this, we’ve integrated high-resolution evidence cameras into the surgical lights, which feed directly to a secure server. This facility is going to elevate our work on every case.
However, the most important aspect, in my opinion, is the safety of my team. This part of the building features a robust ventilation system that maintains negative pressure in the autopsy suite, ensuring a high rate of air exchange.
Ultraviolet lights are installed to sanitize the room when it is not in use. All of these features are designed to protect my team, regardless of the situation.
The final section of the building is the morgue itself. Currently, we can hold only two decedents at a time. After visiting several coroner’s offices during the design phase, I decided on a large-capacity walk-in cooler.
Under normal operations, this cooler will accommodate up to ten decedents, with the ability to expand capacity in the future without new construction.
This new facility represents a significant gain for our community. With all my heart, I hope I never have to meet any of you reading this in my official capacity.
But for those I do meet, your support for this project means we will care for your loved ones with professionalism, dignity, and honor—reflecting the true importance of our work.
I sincerely thank you for that support and look forward to the opening of our new building.
Justin R. Sparks,
Boone County Coroner