TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A crushing workload and a lack of funds to hire more help has a Kansas coroner months behind in finishing reports, which is having an impact on the local prosecutor’s office.
Shawnee County coroner Don Pojman says he’s often up until 2 or 3 in the morning finishing reports for District Attorney Chad Taylor’s office. That’s in addition to his responsibilities to review infant deaths for the state, sign cremation permits and complete reports for other deaths.
The Topeka Capital Journal reports Pojman’s office used to have 15 employees. But in his first year, his budget was cut by $450,000, or 53 percent, and his staff eventually dwindled to four.
Taylor says getting another pathologist is more important to his office than hiring six more attorneys.
