State Lawmaker Blasts Condition Of Medical Examiner's Office

Steve Shaw, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A leading Republican state lawmaker says there will be a news conference, Thursday, regarding the bad shape the state's medical examiner's office is in. 

Senate Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley says he's working on an announcement that could come as soon as noon Thursday. 

Jolley's announcement comes just after it was announced a 42-year-old cooler in the present medical examiner's building broke down, causing several bodies to be stored in a temporary refrigerated truck. 

5/16/2012 Related Story: Refrigerator Breaks Down At State Medical Examiner's Office In OKC

"Their equipment is out of date. Their building is literally falling down. It's time we address this.  The medical examiner's office in Oklahoma has been an embarrassment for decades," Jolley said.

Jolley says state lawmakers have a window of the next two days to craft a bill, because it will take all of next week to get it through the state legislature.