Legislative Leaders Call for Emergency Audit of M.E.'s Office

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee are calling for an emergency audit of the state's Medical Examiner's Office.

"Due to the numerous irregularities within the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, including financial issues, the Legislature believes that an emergency financial audit of the agency is appropriate at this time," the letter states. "We are concerned with the current state of the agency's finances, particularly its lack of financial reporting, outstanding encumbrances and P-card expenditures."

The letter was delivered to State Auditor Steve Burrage Monday afternoon. Burrage and his staff have already begun collecting financial data on the agency.

"We need to go in and understand exactly where the agency is at financially," said Burrage. "We are pleased that the Speaker and Pro Tem have confidence in our office to conduct this audit. We are moving forward immediately and should hopefully have a better picture of the agency's financial situation soon."

The two leaders called for the audit to help avoid any further problems at the agency.

"This is obviously an office in transition, and in order to restore public trust in the agency, we think a financial audit is needed to help the office proceed with its restructuring," said Benge.

"It's critical that we get the many problems within the Medical Examiner's office behind us and to move ahead with solutions so this vital agency can serve the public in a manner we expect and deserve," said Coffee. "This audit is a necessary step toward that end."

Spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard said the emergency audit ordered by lawmakers comes from a request she made at the Capitol last week.

"We just think an audit coming from the legislature would be appropriate," said Ballard. "We asked lawmakers for this emergency audit to help determine where we are financially as an agency. We just think it's the best thing to do."

Also on Monday, the interim chief medical examiner, Dr. Eric Duval, resigned several days sooner than expected. That leaves Tom Jordan, the agency's chief administrator officer, in charge.

Meanwhile, a search committee has been formed to search for a permanent replacement Dr. Collie Trant who was fired by the Board of Medicolegal Investigations.

Spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard said she doesn't know why Dr. Duval resigned before his original March 4 resignation date.