Keep Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and coroner together, report says
Splitting off the coroner’s office from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department isn’t cost effective and there are already measures in place for independent reviews of deaths of jail inmates and those killed by deputies, according to a report to be delivered Tuesday, March 12. The report from the county executive office to the Board of Supervisors recommends the department enter arrangements with neighboring counties to investigate jail deaths and deaths involving deputies’ use of force. The department led by elected Sheriff Chad Bianco is drawing up agreements with San Diego and San Bernardino counties to handle autopsies for those kinds of cases, the report added. In an emailed statement, Bianco said: “The Riverside County Sheriff’s office was very confident that facts would prevail over special interests and a biased, ignorant media corp. We will continue to provide the most transparent and professional service to our residents.” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said his department “will continue to provide the most transparent and professional services to our residents” following a report that recommends keeping the sheriff’s and coroner’s offices together. (File photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The