The county coroner is charged with the responsibilities of determining the cause and manner of death in Van Buren County.  This position is not a typical elected position with normal office hours.  This job is one that is a constant 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  There are numerous daily tasks that must be completed in order to determine a cause and manner of death.  When a death is reported to the coroner, he shall conduct an investigation concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual and gather and review background information, including, but not limited to, medical information and any other information which may be helpful in determining the cause and manner of death (ACA 14-15-301). These duties are mandated to be completed in a very short time frame.  The Office of the Coroner works very closely with multiple law enforcement agencies, ambulance companies, and fire departments across Van Buren county to assure that all information gathered in the investigation is accurate.  This office also has a very close working relation with the Arkansas State Crime Lab as well as the staff at the Medical Examiner’s Office.  The job of the coroner does not end with the initial investigation.  The families of the deceased play an important part of this office.  It is this our job to help these families cope with what has transpired in their lives.  Many times, the situations the coroner faces are very sudden and tragic and the Coroner’s Office helps to make the next steps for a grieving family as easy as possible.