| Information About Us |
Coroners have standards of practice that require performance of specialized, technical skills, e.g., initial body examination at the scene, drawing postmortem specimens for analysis. There are many specialized procedures that are fundamental and are necessary to perform a thorough medicolegal death investigation. Some of the categories are as follows, determine the scope of agency responsibility; identify support agencies; certify death; interact with law enforcement personnel and funeral homes; communicate with pathologists; explain procedures to families; report findings to families; identify human remains; photograph the scene and the body; conduct the physical examination; document the death scene; investigate multiple fatalities; ensure chain of custody; provide testimony; demonstrate knowledge of forensic science, forensic pathology and medical knowledge to name a few. Working in a spirit of cooperation, coordination and communication with local law enforcement as well as other interested parties, this team has raised the standard of death investigation to a new level of excellence here in Susquehanna County. In addition Anthony has taken several courses in Forensic Death Investigation and specialized courses in Bite mark Identification and Analysis; Forensic Anthropology; Crime Scene Assessment; Scene & Evidence Preservation, Practical Bloodstain Pattern Recognition; Manner of Death Seminar; Bomb Threat Response and Search; Duties, Responsibilities and the Work Environment of an Emergency Management Coordinator; National Incident Management System, Ics 300: Intermediate Ics for Expanding 1, certified; Intro to Unified Command; attendance and participation in the Pennsylvania Regional Counter- Terrorism Task Force Symposium in Aug. 2005 & 2006. Completed Awareness Training in Clandestine Methamphetamine Lab and a General Law Enforcement Course. In May 2006 Anthony completed The National Mass Fatalities Institute Course and in October 2006 he completed a 24 hour Mass Fatality Incident Response Course. Anthony has also attended seminars on Pandemic Planning and Response for Coroners. In April 2008 he attended the Short Course in the Documentation, Recovery & Interpretation of the Fatal Fire Victim. Anthony has provided training and developed death scene protocols for all Emergency Medical Services providing service to Susquehanna County in an effort to maintain death scene integrity until Law Enforcement and the Coroner’s Office arrives on scene. As Chairman of the (Susquehanna County Counter-Terrorism Task Force) renamed the “Susquehanna County Emergency Preparedness Task Force” for the last 5 years Anthony has worked very closely with County Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, Department of Health, the County 911 Center and Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Operations Center. This same task force involves all County Schools, the Red Cross, Penn DOT, County Hospitals and Hazardous Materials Response agencies to name a few. Currently he heads the planning and implementation for Pandemic Planning for the County of Susquehanna. Anthony is also involved in the Wyoming/Susquehanna Child Death Review Team Working Together for the Safety and Well- being of Children. In April 2004, Anthony was the founder and chairman of the Coroner’s Sub-committee of the Northeast PA Emergency Response Group, AKA, Northeast PA Regional Counter-Terrorism Task Force. He is chairman of the 8 County Task Force in the first formation in the state with the Coroner’s Sub-Committee. Since the formation of the Sub-Committee in April of 2004 over $250,000.00 in federal funding for equipment and training has been procured for use in mass fatality incident responses. Two 8' x 20' foot trailers filled with equipment with one located in Susquehanna County and one in Northampton County. These are the only trailers of their kind in the state to date. A well trained Mass Fatality Response Team was organized which provides Mass Fatality scene documentation, search and recovery of human remains and personal effects, a service not provided by any other agency in the state. May 3-5th 2007 Anthony attended Documentation, Recovery and Identification of Mass Disaster Victims Training taught by Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, Director of the Applied Forensic Sciences Department of Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. On April 4, 2008 Anthony attended an 8 hour training Short Course in the Documentation, Recovery & Interpretation of the Fatal Fire Victim. (See training section on this website) Some of the equipment procured though the task force is used in the daily operation of all eight Coroner’s Offices in the region. Four portable radios, Laptop computers and even a Forensic Alternate Light Source in use and available to all law enforcement agencies in the county. State of the art equipment and training have been long been out of reach for many counties. Now, with task force involvement in this county we have much of the equipment and supplies once only dreamed of by many agencies in this county. The coroners office in Susquehanna County has entered the world of high tech equipment and training. As Coroner I will continue to strive to provide the best training and equipment necessary to perform the highest standard of investigations in the county for the families we serve. In late 2008 the Susquehanna County Coroner's Office received comprehensive training through an interactive DVD and web- based program from Forensic Death Investigation.
• More than 6 hours of video review content. • Nearly 1000 first-hand documented images—from autopsies and the investigation of these of crime scenes. • Each image has been digitally enhanced utilizing state of the art software and computers to ensure image clarity and impact. • More than 420 questions with video and text answers. • Text file containing all questions and answers for printing, review, and testing situations. • This complete program is also available online at www.fdilab.com
along with a new computerized information system that enables the Office to more efficiently access and track statistical information and generate all types of reports pertinent to the Office. Anthony has hosted several death investigation continuing educational seminars for Coroner’s and Law Enforcement Agencies throughout the state since 1998. (Practical Bloodstain Pattern Recognition, 1998; Crime Scene Assessment Seminar, 1999; Manner of Death Seminar, 2000; Misadventures at the Death Scene Seminar, 2001; Death Investigation Seminar, 2002; Unique Death Investigations, 2005; Forensic Techniques Seminar, 2006) Anthony Conarton has also developed two brochures. One is used when notification of next-of-kin is made either by the coroner’s office or police. In either case the brochure contains information on what to expect, along with commonly asked questions and information on dealing with the loss of a loved one. A form with information the funeral home will need is enclosed. Coroner’s Office contact numbers and the name of the investigating coroner for that investigation is included. The second brochure contains most of what is in this booklet, Frequently Asked Questions and Information about the Office. This has been very helpful in answering the most asked question “what do you do”, obviously this cannot be answered in one sentence. Death investigation has become too complex to give a short answer in today’s society. Now this website to aid in answering questions about the office. Anthony is the first full time Coroner in Susquehanna County. Normally he is available during regular business hours and can be reached by telephone even when out of the office. Remember, as mentioned before, this is a working office (24 hours a day, every day of the year) and investigative duties often leave the office vacant. You can always leave a message on voice mail and he will return your call as soon as possible. Anthony has also created several policies and forms to help protect the Coroner, Coroner’s Office and the County from trivial lawsuits. A comprehensive fee schedule was created to offset expenses of the office. He also developed comprehensive Information and Guideline Booklets for both Hospitals to follow when a death occurs in there facility. As of the end of 2008 Anthony has conducted in excess of 1790 death investigation and attended over 332 autopsies in his career. Anthony has achieved an estimated 440 hours of continuing education over the years.
Plus travel time to and from the scene. Preliminary paperwork, arrangements for an autopsy, conversations with the family, funeral home, doctors, and police before the autopsy usually takes 3 hours. The autopsy and travel time could be as long as 5 hours. Completing the Death Certificate, conversations with several agencies and the family, completion of the final report may take an additional 3 hours or more. In the end 17 hours on one investigation. You must have the time to spend on an investigation no matter how long it takes. |
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| DEPUTIES RICHARD M. HENNESSEY, CHIEF DEPUTY Certified by the State Attorney General in 1999 & current Chief Deputy: 2000 - present Deputy: 1987 - 1999 JOSEPH J. DONOVAN, JR, DEPUTY Deputy: 1998 - present ROBERT A. BARTRON, DEPUTY Certified by the State Attorney General in 1991& current Deputy: 2000 - present Chief Deputy: 1996 - 1999 Coroner: 1992 - 1995 Chief Deputy: 1971 -1991 SCOTT LONZINSKI, DEPUTY Deputy: 1998 - present ALYSSA LONZINSKI, DEPUTY Deputy: 2004 - present LAURA L. CONARTON, SECRETARY/DEPUTY Deputy: 1990 - present Secretary: 1996 - present |
| About the Coroner |
Anthony J. Conarton
Susquehanna County Coroner
The citizens of Susquehanna County elected Anthony J. Conarton Coroner in the November
election 1995. He was sworn into office January 2, 1996. Prior to this he served as Chief Deputy
from 1992 to 1995 and as a Deputy Coroner from 1978 to 1991.
Anthony J. Conarton became certified by the State Attorney General to officially serve as the
Coroner/Chief Deputy Coroner on December 20, 1991. He has maintained his legal certification
under the Pennsylvania Coroner’s Education Board ever since.
OFFICE ADDRESS:
Susquehanna County Coroner's Office
320 Main Street
PO Box 133
Great Bend, PA 18821
Susquehanna County Coroner's Office
320 Main Street
PO Box 133
Great Bend, PA 18821