There is hereby created as an executive department a Snohomish county department of medical examiner. The department shall be responsible for the statutory functions of county coroner including but not limited to the performance of autopsies and the investigation of death, as authorized by the statutes of the state of Washington. The department shall include a chief medical examiner who shall be a pathologist certified or eligible for certification in forensic pathology; and such staff as are necessary to accomplish its duties. The department will be managed and administered by the chief medical examiner. (Added by Ord. 87-042 § 2, June 3, 1987).