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Cambria coroner’s office achieves top standards

Mirror photo by Sean Sauro Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees and staff members — Deputy Coroner Scott Effinger, Chief Deputy Coroner Joseph Hribar and executive assistant Stacie Holsinger — gather Monday in Johnstown to announce their office has received accreditation from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.

JOHNSTOWN — The Cambria County Coroner’s office became one of five in the state to achieve top standards of operation, Coroner Jeff Lees announced Monday.

“Our office has gotten extremely busy over the last two years, and to be able to achieve this accomplishment … speaks volumes,” he said.

As Lees spoke Monday inside the Johnstown-based Central Park Complex, he displayed a certificate of accreditation issued by the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.

The certificate, he said, shows that office staff have been able to meet the highest standards of work, according to state auditors who conducted an evaluation of practices, including investigation, lab services and record keeping.

“We received very high marks with this accreditation process,” he said. “It was a very lengthy process, and this shows that the coroner’s office is excelling at doing our jobs, providing quality, sound death investigations.”

So far this year, the office has investigated well over 900 deaths, Lees said, thanking his staff members in attendance — Chief Deputy Coroner Joseph Hribar, Deputy Coroner Scott Effinger and executive assistant Stacie Holsinger.

“I’m very honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with them,” Lees said, explaining his colleagues have helped to achieve the highest possible honor for a coroner’s or medical examiner’s system.

That is especially impressive as opiate drug addiction has greatly increased the number of deaths per year in Cambria County, he said

“These are challenging times in Cambria County, as everyone knows, with the drug epidemic,” Lees said.

Cambria County commissioners also applauded the office’s work.

“Jeff and his staff do things professionally day in and day out,” President Commissioner Tom Chernisky said. “The coroner and the deputy coroners are the front line, daily. … Dealing with death is never easy.”

Commissioner Mark Wissinger agreed.

“We know we have a first-class professional organization here with Jeff and his staff,” he said.

The accreditation process took about six to eight months. And this is the second time the Cambria County office achieved the honor.

The first time was in 2012, and accreditation lasts five years, Lees said.

“This is the highest level of achievement that you can receive,” he said. “Again I’m very proud to be able to give a coroner’s office to the residents of Cambria County that they can be very proud of.”

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.

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