State Leaders Proposing M.E.'s Office, OSBI Merger

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Because of the budget crisis, state leaders are now proposing the State Medical Examiner's Office be merged with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

In his new budget, Governor Brad Henry is once again asking that the M.E.'s office be merged with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. State leaders believe some of the problems that have plagued the office could be solved under the leadership of a different agency.

"I think people are looking at the best long-term solution for that agency, and what we're saying is perhaps the best solution is to put them under the umbrella of a larger agency to get some of that help with some of the administrative oversight and administrative issues," said Oklahoma State Treasurer Scott Meacham.

But officials at the M.E's office said that could create a conflict of interest.

"If a defense attorney could turn around and say, 'Well, you ruled that way because you're with the OSBI.' Not that that would happen, but we don't want that, even the possibility of that," said Medical Examiner's Spokesperson Cherokee Ballard.

State Representative Randy Terrill chairs the committee that funds the M.E's office and said he's against a merger with the OSBI as well.

"Only a small number, a small percentage of cases the Medical Examiner's office handles are actually criminally related, so it doesn't exactly fit with the OSBI," Terrill said.

Terrill proposed moving the M.E.'s office onto the University of Central Oklahoma campus where the new OSBI forensic center is across the street.

"To produce sort of a unique, one-of-a-kind synergy between those three centers, that would be the first of its kind in the nation," Terrill said.

Henry said this merger along with some others could save the state $5.3 million, but they are remaining open to other suggestions.

OSBI leaders did not comment on the proposal, only to say they will do what state leaders tell them to do.