Greg Sandstrom, Coroner

The Coroner is an Elected Official with the responsibility for determining the Cause and Manner of Death of all persons who pass within the jurisdictional boundaries of Kitsap County. The Coroner or his/her Deputies are required to adhere to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW Titles 36.24 & 68.50) for determining if a case is a jurisdictional death that would require a more thorough and in-depth investigation.

All deaths are reported to the Coroner's Office 24 hours a day 7 days a week and all deaths are jurisdictional until the Deputy determines if further investigation is needed, this is based on the circumstances surrounding the death.

The Kitsap County Coroner's Office is instrumental in the investigation as well as the prevention of deaths. Coroner's Office personnel are involved in prevention groups such as Survivors of Suicide, Mothers against Drunk Drivers, Kitsap County Traffic Safety Task Force and  Reduce Under Age Drinking. For information about State wide deaths, including Kitsap County, Dept Of Health link: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Data/data.htm

Annual Report for 2008:

Kitsap County Coroner's Office took 1952 deaths and Investigated 291 of the 1952 total cases. Of the 291 cases investigated, 124 were autopsied and/or inspected, with the Pathologist consulted on 57 additional cases. The rest being signed by the deceased regular physician or signed by the Coroner based on medical information provided by physicians and are broken down as follows:

Natural-1778                                           Bone Cases-16

Accidental-58                                         Out of County Notifications-29

Traffic Fatals-13                                      Pathologist consulted-57

Suicide-27

Homicide-4

Pending cases-6