I find it surprising that you all believe this is a political move on the part of the coroner. He made an announcement on April 15, I believe, stating that this is what was going to happen. Nothing was done about it until now, and I don't believe for a minute that any of you, Dr. Kennedy or any of the commissioners believed that death would somehow fall in line. It is what needed to be done and it is what was announced would be done. I am not saying that makes it easier on the parents, but it's a fact that you all seem to think is negligible.
Also, for those of you alleging he was trying to make a political point to the "city", I urge you to check you facts when you are blasting the MAHONING COUNTY Coroner. City government is a different government than county government.
Jason 83, you're right Germaniuk has a lower budget because he is both the coroner and the forensic pathologist and he has approximately 60% of the cases.
I fail to see how Dr. Kennedy, a man who has held the office spotlessly for 16 years, failed miserably. I fail to see how he should be dragged through the mud for something he told the county at-large he was going to do weeks ago with nary a word in opposition. It's not like he made this announcement and figured that people would only die, get murdered or make poor decisions on a Monday through Friday basis. He knew the potential consequences, and frankly, so did the commissioners. An obvious fact since they requested he make the cuts to make the budget. Maybe they should have held the meeting that is scheduled for tomorrow at an earlier time to avoid this from happening. They didn't. I am not transferring blame, but merely requesting that some of you take a step back and look at the facts from all sides, something that tend to go by the wayside in these blogs.
The bottom line is that it is easy for you to make these decisions after the fact and when it is not your job. It's easier to criticize than research. Wouldn't it be great if everything was just that easy?
The coroner's report is based upon that of the forensic pathologist and any investigation from the scene. (Stop watching so much CSI, and try to focus on how the real coroners' departments work.) Are you saying Campbell Police Department, which was on scene, can't handle a crash investigation?
And yes, maybe we should focus on why these children were out driving around at 5 a.m. at up to 90 mph since the responding officer was so quick to respond to media that they weren't being chased by the police. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Lack of public service? Have we taken the time to look at it from the other point of view?
If Dr. Kennedy would have allowed the family into the morgue on Saturday without the aid of his staff (which would have cost money as he had already pointed out weeks ago), would there not be a liability on the part of the county? A liability not only in physical safety of anyone who entered the morgue but also in the possible compromise of any physical evidence that is part of pending investigation and autopsy? Is this a liability that Traficanti, or you for that matter, then is saying he would want to the county to be open to? It seems Dr. Kennedy was interested in protecting the county from this type of scenario more than anyone gives him credit for. I don't think that this is a question of being heartless or lacking compassion as some of you assert, instead, I think it's an example of the type of politician and county official you seem to be begging for. He's being responsible on the part of the county, and would you not have crucified him if he put in the county into a liability or debt-incurring situation? Or gone back on his word as so many of our local politicians do? I would like to remind you that you continually ask what he would do if it was his child. I put to you the question, what would you do if you had to make his decisions and try to remain objective? And I am talking real objectivity. I doubt any of you have the gumption or the sense to hold such an office, do it well and do it without controversy for 16 years. Has anyone wondered why this has been made into such an issue a week before election time? I doubt that Dr. Kennedy is the one making a political statement, maybe you should put Traficanti under a spotlight.
Dr. Germaniuk stated he did not go to the scene of a recent three-person fatality because he knew that the state patrol was on the scene. Is this a statement he is making on the competency of the Campbell Police Department? Perhaps he knows something that should be brought to light? Or, instead of sensationalizing and glossing over the intricacies of this position, we should focus on the fact that Dr. Kennedy used the same logic in not reporting. The Campbell Police Department was on scene and investigating. Dr. Kennedy, much like Dr. Germaniuk in the three-car fatality instance, trusted the competencies of the responding law enforcement agency. Some of you may go further and say "Well, at least Germaniuk was waiting at the morgue." That's fine, however, Dr. Kennedy could not open the morgue. It was not a matter of refusal, a word that has been thrown around lately. It was a budgetary matter, one that was not a problem when the county announced that budget cuts needed to be made. Had the morgue been opened, would it not have required more manpower, possibly the backing of the sheriff's department? Would this not incur more debt on the part of the county? This is not to say that I am strictly a numbers person, I understand that the families wanted to see their loved ones. However, no one seems to realize the bodies were identified and the families were notified at the time of the accident of their loss, it's not as if they went without knowing that their children had been killed in this accident. Also, as a step-mother, I would not want to be notified and asked to report to the morgue to see my step-child, or any loved one for that matter, lying there before being cleaned and tended to, which is something that would have required the staffing to do prior to the bodies being viewed.
Also, I think we are forgetting that this was not the only call over the weekend. Let's look at the facts, people. A point that has not been noticed in this story is that the neighboring counties' coroners stated they would be on call and are at every scene. Funny, did anyone notice the ratio of calls to Dr. Kennedy's? Germaniuk has 213 to 271 annually and Marcial has approximately 110 a year while Kennedy has 350 a year. Do the math, people, Germaniuk has a load that is approximately 60% to 77% of Kennedy's while Marcial's is 31% of Kennedy's. In one weekend, Dr. Kennedy had 10% the amount of calls Marcial has in one year.
CRASH AFTERMATH
I find it surprising that you all believe this is a political move on the part of the coroner. He made an announcement on April 15, I believe, stating that this is what was going to happen. Nothing was done about it until now, and I don't believe for a minute that any of you, Dr. Kennedy or any of the commissioners believed that death would somehow fall in line. It is what needed to be done and it is what was announced would be done. I am not saying that makes it easier on the parents, but it's a fact that you all seem to think is negligible.
Also, for those of you alleging he was trying to make a political point to the "city", I urge you to check you facts when you are blasting the MAHONING COUNTY Coroner. City government is a different government than county government.
April 30, 2010 at 10:34 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Other coroners differ with Kennedy's behavior
Jason 83, you're right Germaniuk has a lower budget because he is both the coroner and the forensic pathologist and he has approximately 60% of the cases.
I fail to see how Dr. Kennedy, a man who has held the office spotlessly for 16 years, failed miserably. I fail to see how he should be dragged through the mud for something he told the county at-large he was going to do weeks ago with nary a word in opposition. It's not like he made this announcement and figured that people would only die, get murdered or make poor decisions on a Monday through Friday basis. He knew the potential consequences, and frankly, so did the commissioners. An obvious fact since they requested he make the cuts to make the budget. Maybe they should have held the meeting that is scheduled for tomorrow at an earlier time to avoid this from happening. They didn't. I am not transferring blame, but merely requesting that some of you take a step back and look at the facts from all sides, something that tend to go by the wayside in these blogs.
The bottom line is that it is easy for you to make these decisions after the fact and when it is not your job. It's easier to criticize than research. Wouldn't it be great if everything was just that easy?
April 29, 2010 at 12:52 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Coroner critics: Inaction harms families
The coroner's report is based upon that of the forensic pathologist and any investigation from the scene. (Stop watching so much CSI, and try to focus on how the real coroners' departments work.) Are you saying Campbell Police Department, which was on scene, can't handle a crash investigation?
And yes, maybe we should focus on why these children were out driving around at 5 a.m. at up to 90 mph since the responding officer was so quick to respond to media that they weren't being chased by the police. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
April 29, 2010 at 12:14 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Coroner critics: Inaction harms families
Lack of public service? Have we taken the time to look at it from the other point of view?
If Dr. Kennedy would have allowed the family into the morgue on Saturday without the aid of his staff (which would have cost money as he had already pointed out weeks ago), would there not be a liability on the part of the county? A liability not only in physical safety of anyone who entered the morgue but also in the possible compromise of any physical evidence that is part of pending investigation and autopsy? Is this a liability that Traficanti, or you for that matter, then is saying he would want to the county to be open to? It seems Dr. Kennedy was interested in protecting the county from this type of scenario more than anyone gives him credit for. I don't think that this is a question of being heartless or lacking compassion as some of you assert, instead, I think it's an example of the type of politician and county official you seem to be begging for. He's being responsible on the part of the county, and would you not have crucified him if he put in the county into a liability or debt-incurring situation? Or gone back on his word as so many of our local politicians do? I would like to remind you that you continually ask what he would do if it was his child. I put to you the question, what would you do if you had to make his decisions and try to remain objective? And I am talking real objectivity. I doubt any of you have the gumption or the sense to hold such an office, do it well and do it without controversy for 16 years. Has anyone wondered why this has been made into such an issue a week before election time? I doubt that Dr. Kennedy is the one making a political statement, maybe you should put Traficanti under a spotlight.
April 29, 2010 at 11:35 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Other coroners differ with Kennedy's behavior
Dr. Germaniuk stated he did not go to the scene of a recent three-person fatality because he knew that the state patrol was on the scene. Is this a statement he is making on the competency of the Campbell Police Department? Perhaps he knows something that should be brought to light? Or, instead of sensationalizing and glossing over the intricacies of this position, we should focus on the fact that Dr. Kennedy used the same logic in not reporting. The Campbell Police Department was on scene and investigating. Dr. Kennedy, much like Dr. Germaniuk in the three-car fatality instance, trusted the competencies of the responding law enforcement agency. Some of you may go further and say "Well, at least Germaniuk was waiting at the morgue." That's fine, however, Dr. Kennedy could not open the morgue. It was not a matter of refusal, a word that has been thrown around lately. It was a budgetary matter, one that was not a problem when the county announced that budget cuts needed to be made. Had the morgue been opened, would it not have required more manpower, possibly the backing of the sheriff's department? Would this not incur more debt on the part of the county? This is not to say that I am strictly a numbers person, I understand that the families wanted to see their loved ones. However, no one seems to realize the bodies were identified and the families were notified at the time of the accident of their loss, it's not as if they went without knowing that their children had been killed in this accident. Also, as a step-mother, I would not want to be notified and asked to report to the morgue to see my step-child, or any loved one for that matter, lying there before being cleaned and tended to, which is something that would have required the staffing to do prior to the bodies being viewed.
Also, I think we are forgetting that this was not the only call over the weekend. Let's look at the facts, people. A point that has not been noticed in this story is that the neighboring counties' coroners stated they would be on call and are at every scene. Funny, did anyone notice the ratio of calls to Dr. Kennedy's? Germaniuk has 213 to 271 annually and Marcial has approximately 110 a year while Kennedy has 350 a year. Do the math, people, Germaniuk has a load that is approximately 60% to 77% of Kennedy's while Marcial's is 31% of Kennedy's. In one weekend, Dr. Kennedy had 10% the amount of calls Marcial has in one year.
April 29, 2010 at 10:05 a.m. permalink suggest removal