Williamson County approves additional funding for death investigators

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County is one step closer to hiring four new death investigators. 

County Judge Bill Gravell, along with Williamson County's Justice of the Peace judges, have been interviewing candidates for the positions. The new hires would help the JP judges take death calls, respond to scenes and prepare reports across the county. 

The justices of the peace determine cause and manner of death, since the county has no medical examiner of its own. The judges have shared concerns about juggling growing court dockets and death investigations with KXAN investigators over the last year. 

"I sat with all four of our JPs as we interviewed candidates and there was one particular candidate that we interviewed, and we surmised that that candidate had more death inquest experience than all five of us combined," said Gravell, who was a former justice of the peace. 

A county spokesperson explained that the county manager determined that in order to hire people with experience the positions would need to be reclassified. Commissioners voted on an additional $47,827.06 for the positions Tuesday morning. 

In August, commissioners budgeted $309,083.72 for the positions. With the additional funding, the two death inquest investigator positions would pay $68,157.61 for each person — the two senior death inquest investigator positions are salaried at $86,000 per hire.  

The judges rule on homicides, suicides, overdoses and death from natural causes. If a case needs additional investigation, they request an autopsy from either a private firm in Williamson County – or the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office. 

"There are some cost saving tools — some cost saving paths that we've discovered in this process. We believe that we'll be able to lower the number of autopsies that have been requested because we have these full-time individuals who are specifically trained," Gravell said. 

The county said the positions will be filled in January. 

Texas law states that a county with a population of 2.5 million must have a medical examiner, but the commissioners court may also establish one at any time. State lawmakers are expected to look at the issue in the upcoming legislative session.