Clallam County Moves to Establish Independent Coroner's Office

County officials say new department could be created through a formal resolution as early as March.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Clallam County is taking steps to launch an independent coroner's office, following voter approval of a county charter amendment last fall. County officials say a draft ordinance is nearly ready to formally create a standalone Department of Coroner, separate from the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The change comes after updated legal guidance from the Attorney General's Office found the county's former practice of using the prosecutor as coroner was no longer legally sound.

Why it matters

The move to establish an independent coroner's office is aimed at ensuring the county's death investigation process is handled by a dedicated, specialized department rather than as an ancillary duty of the prosecutor's office. This is expected to improve transparency and accountability around the coroner's responsibilities.

The details

County Administrator Todd Mielke says the new department could be created through a formal resolution, rather than an ordinance, which would allow for a more streamlined process to handle any future vacancies in the coroner role. Officials note there are already staff performing coroner duties in the interim, including District Court Judge Dave Neupert.

  • County voters approved a charter amendment to establish an independent coroner's office in the fall of 2025.
  • County officials say the resolution to create the new Department of Coroner could be introduced as early as the second week of March 2026.

The players

Todd Mielke

Clallam County Administrator.

Dave Neupert

District Court Judge who has been serving as the county coroner in the interim.

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What they’re saying

“From what I understand, this is more properly handled through a resolution. That way, should there ever be a vacancy in the future, we're dealing with it through a resolution as opposed to going back through a more process-oriented amendment to an ordinance. And we certainly recognize that this is a unique position — with unique requirements, backgrounds, and training — and we believe that we've had very capable people working to fulfill these activities on behalf of Clallam County.”

— Todd Mielke, Clallam County Administrator (myclallamcounty.com)

What’s next

The resolution to formally create the new Department of Coroner could be introduced to county commissioners as early as the second week of March 2026.

The takeaway

The establishment of an independent coroner's office in Clallam County is a significant step in ensuring the county's death investigation process is handled by a dedicated, specialized department rather than as an ancillary duty of the prosecutor's office. This change is expected to improve transparency and accountability around the coroner's responsibilities.