County candidates respond to LWV’s questionnaire

County Coroner

David R. Brown

9 Beveridge St.

Greencastle

765-720-3184

Republican

1. Why are you the best choice for Putnam County voters? (150-word response)

I have been the elected coroner for the last 3 ½ years. l was chief deputy coroner for eight years before that. I am a state certified Medico-Legal Death lnvestigator. I initially joined the Coroner’s Office in 1998 as a forensic photographer. I have been a coroner for 18 years. Over the last 3½ years, as the elected coroner, I have personally conducted and/or supervised almost 200 death investigations including homicides, suicides, accidental and natural causes deaths.

I recently retired after 22 years of service to Putnam County initially as a 911 dispatcher and then at the Putnam County Jail; retiring as a jail captain.

Under my administration, I have run my department with fiscal efficiency returning 8-9% of my budget back to the County General Fund every year. I have made several improvements to the department and have several more projects in the works to better our ability to investigate deaths.

2. Please describe your qualifications (150-word response)

In January of 2000, after the 40-hour certification class and a yearlong externship, I received my Medico-Legal Death lnvestigator’s certification from the State of Indiana. I have received training in anatomy, pathology, coroner law, forensic photography, crime/arson scene investigation, and mass fatality management. While in the United States Air Force, I attended leadership and management training.

I have written our local manual, “lnvestigating Deaths in Putnam County” outlining how I expect local deaths to be investigated as a means of expanding the state level of training. I have written and published with the Putnam County EMA, the Coroner’s Offices’ plans for investigating and managing a mass fatality event.

My staff and I together have almost 70 years of experience investigating deaths in Putnam County. I have revived the Reserve Deputy Coroner Program and have trained and certified 5 reserve deputy coroners effectively doubling the staff of the Coroner’s Office at no cost to the county.

Wally Steele

208 E. Logan St.

Cloverdale

765-721-0280

Democratic

1. Why are you the best choice for Putnam County voters? (150-word response)

The people of Putnam County should vote for Wally Steele because of my heart, dedication and understanding of the job. I have experience speaking to those who have lost loved ones from my time working at local funeral homes. It is with compassion and consideration with which one must speak.

I am also experienced in customer service from decades of interactions in a customer call center. Often customers were facing difficult situations not having electricity. This required remaining level headed and calmly interacting to provide the best possible service. I have remained committed to making Putnam County a better place my entire life serving with volunteer groups, governing over local scholarship boards, coaching baseball, and participating in the faith community.

Serving others has been my calling and I look forward to serving the community in a different way, one with significant impact for those who have passed and their families.

2. Please describe your qualifications. (150-word response)

A good coroner displays superb communication skills. After working in and volunteering among several organizations, I have developed the ability to speak clearly and factually. My experience working at local funeral homes has provided me the opportunity to learn how to communicate with families in a gentle and considerate manner. I was trained on removing and handling individuals from scenes.

I have been placed in difficult situations, remaining level-headed, while working in the customer service field. I am connected to several different groups throughout Putnam County and have developed positive relationships after living in this community for over 65 years.

Not only have I developed these skills, I remain committed to improving our community. I will continue to assist in providing evidence and closure for families and loved ones during this most difficult time.