Matney is new Grant County coroner

EPHRATA — The Grant County commissioners unanimously selected Dave Matney to replace Jerry Jasman as coroner.

Matney, an investigator with the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office, starts on Dec. 7. The former coroner pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in October and is resigning on Dec. 6 as part of the plea agreement with the Washington State Attorney General’s office.

Matney was one of three candidates selected by the Grant County Republican Party Precinct Committee Officers on Saturday. He, along with Mike Christian, a retired Moses Lake doctor, and Aaron Doyle, a Quincy police officer and paramedic, was interviewed by the commissioners this week.

“It is very nerve wracking, selecting an elected official,” Commissioner Cindy Carter said. “It weighs heavily on me to select someone … You try to look at the whole picture and try to go from there.”

The new coroner started in law enforcement in 1981 with the Quincy Police Department, working  as a patrol officer and crime scene investigator. He joined the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team during his last four months with the department.

“I joined the sheriff’s office in November 1988 and I worked there until I retired from law enforcement in 2007,” he said. “I retired as a detective in the major crimes unit. Then I went to work for the prosecutor’s office as an investigator. I’m just finishing that up now.”

When it became clear Jasman was going to resign, Matney started to think about becoming the coroner. With his background and training, he believes he is the best candidate for the job.

“I’ve worked with Jerry and I think we have a very good small county coroner’s office,” he said. “We’ve had a professional coroner’s office for a number of years. I’d like to see us continue.”

The new coroner may not have any medical experience, but Carter said his years of investigation experience make him qualified to lead the office.

“He’s worked on homicides,” she said. “He deals a lot with child rapes and child molestation. He’s dealt a lot with families. He’s dealt with grief, stress and he’s performed well under those circumstances.”

Matney confirmed this, saying the medical experience may be helpful, but the coroner is mostly responsible for investigating a scene. A forensics specialist handles the autopsy.

“What’s called for is an investigator to gather, preserve and document evidence,” he said. “(The coroner does) a scene investigation. They take removal of the body … Over the years of responding to deaths I’ve attended a number of autopsies.”

He doesn’t have any immediate plans to make changes in the office, he said, adding he does want to look at the policies. He plans to review any possible changes with Chief Deputy Lynette Henson.

“She’s very competent and professional,” he said.

Matney also told the commissioners and precinct committee officers about his 2005 driving under the influence arrest. Matney went through a diversion program for being a first time offender after his arrest by the Washington State Patrol near Rock Island on state Route 28.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff John Turley, a chief criminal deputy at the time, said he retrieved Matney after he was booked into the Douglas County Jail by the state patrol. Matney pleaded guilty and placed in the diversion program, which set a condition that if he didn’t commit another crime for a period of time, he wouldn’t have to serve jail time.

“It’s not something I’m proud of, but I’m not going to shy away from it or deny it,” Matney said. “I was in intensive outpatient treatment for alcoholism, paid a fine and I’ve been clean and sober since the night I was arrested.”

 Both Carter and Commissioner Carolann Swartz said he explained the situation to them during his interview.

“He was very forthright about that,” Swartz said. “He’s complied with everything. It appears it hasn’t been an issue ever since. We do have to understand that things happen. He seems to be handling it well … I believe that people deserve a second chance, especially when they’re trying that hard.”

Grant County Republicans Chairman Tom Dent confirmed the issue did come up in Saturday’s meeting, but he didn’t see any reaction from the committee officers, he said.

“He didn’t walk around anything,” he said.

Matney plans to have an open door with the victims’ families, adding he’s spent his entire life since graduating high school in public service.

“Public service is what I do. It’s what I know how to do. I don’t think I’m old enough to just retire. I actually like working with the public,” he said.

Carter said Matney impressed her in the interview, adding she would have selected someone different based on the applications.

“It’s the same with employees when your interviewing for a job,” she said. “Sometimes they’re better than what you thought and sometimes they crash and burn.”

Swartz said Matney presented a good combination of compassion, ability and experience.

“What he presented to me was a really good balance,” she said. “I was really impressed with his investigative abilities … and his experience. One of the questions we had was, ‘Did the candidates know what the office entailed?’ He certainly had experience with his background.”

Turley supported Matney’s appointment, saying he will be a valuable asset for investigating suspicious deaths.

“David Matney is well respected in the investigative community throughout the State of Washington, and received merits for several investigations. He excelled in child abuse investigations and served on county and state advisory councils for Child Protective Services,” he said.

Matney will serve for the rest of Jasman’s term, which ends in December 2010. He is committed to running for a new four-year term in the 2010 election.

“A number of people supported me,” he said. “I made a commitment to them that I will seek election.”