Oneida County seeking a new medical examiner

Over the course of the past several weeks, Oneida County has been without a full-time medical examiner. 

Crystal Schaub, who started as an limited term employee (LTE) deputy medical examiner in June 2016, was promoted to the position of medical examiner in January, 2019.

On Feb. 3 of this year, she submitted a three-sentence letter of resignation via email to Oneida County human resources manager Lisa Charbarneau, a letter that contained no reason as to why it was she was resigning from the position. 

“Please accept this as my official resignation as the Chief Medical Examiner for Oneida County, effective immediately,” Schaub wrote. “I request that my PTO (paid time off) time be paid out and if you could advise me when my health benefits will expire. I do have supplies at my home office that I would like to get back to the county, please have Luke contact me to pick these items up.”

Luke is Luke Johnson who, until late on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 21, was the county’s chief deputy medical examiner since January, 2019. 

He began his time in the Oneida County medical examiner’s office the year before when he was hired as deputy medical examiner on an LTE basis. 

Johnson ended his time with the county with a Feb. 21 email to county clerk Tracy Hartman.

His letter also didn’t include a reason for his resignation. 

“Please note, this is my official notice of resignation as Chief Deputy Medical Examiner, effective immediately,” Johnson wrote. “I request my PTO be paid at the next payroll.”

Following a closed session Monday, the Oneida County board’s public safety committee, on a motion by county supervisor and committee member Billy Fried, voted to deny Johnson’s PTO request. 

He’d accrued, according to Hartman, nearly 594 hours of PTO. 

Also approved was a motion by county supervisor and committee member Diana Harris to have Hartman, who is not only county clerk but the county board’s administrative coordinator, and Charbarneau oversee the operations of the medical examiner’s office until a new medical examiner is hired.

The committee’s vote on both motions was unanimous. 

Following Monday’s meeting of the public safety committee, Hartman told The Lakeland Times there is “a plan moving forward.”

Hartman and Charbarneau issued a statement on Feb. 26 stating Ashley Roach, who’s been with the Oneida County medical examiner’s office since September of 2021, “has accepted a limited term position” as chief deputy medical examiner while Oneida County works to fill the vacant position. 

“Oneida County feels confident that Roach will provide a high level of service to Oneida, Vilas and Forest County residents while a permanent medical examiner is being sought,” the statement reads.

Lincoln County’s coroner, Valerie Caylor, assisted the Oneida County medical examiner’s office last weekend “as staff was not available to respond to two death scenes.”

“Caylor has graciously stated that she will continue to assist as needed as she has done for the last 16 years,” Hartman and Charbarneau’s statement read. 

Hartman told the Times Monday the public safety committee met on Feb. 20 — the day before Johnson resigned — to discuss the medical examiner vacancy created when Schaub resigned. 

“We were going to get that position posted,” Hartman said. “At that time, applications were going to be due in April. We’re feeling a little bit more of a pinch now with Luke resigning.”

She said the intent is to post one open position in the medical examiner’s office.

“We want to get a better handle on the staffing of the office and what’s needed so we’re going to get this posted as soon as possible,” Hartman said.

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].