(1) The chief medical examiner may create divisions and reassign positions and functions within the department, PROVIDED That any budget transfers required by such actions are approved by the executive and the council and, PROVIDED FURTHER That personnel assignments and changes shall be made in conformance with the personnel rules and policies of Snohomish county.

(2) The chief medical examiner shall plan, coordinate and manage all operations of the department.

(3) The chief medical examiner shall certify the cause of death in cases under the medical examiner’s jurisdiction, sign death certificates, determine the need for autopsies and perform or cause to be performed autopsies as needed, investigate or cause to be investigated the cause of violent deaths or deaths resulting from accidents, homicides, suicides, or when the deceased was not under the care of a physician and perform all duties assigned to the coroner by the laws of the state of Washington now in effect or as hereafter amended, with the exception of those noted in SCC 2.74.070.

(4) The chief medical examiner may perform coroner’s inquests pursuant to RCW 36.24.020 through 36.24.120, except that he may appoint an attorney to hear inquests where the chief medical examiner is required to give testimony.

(5) The chief medical examiner may be assigned other duties from time to time by the Snohomish county executive. (Added by Ord. 87-042 § 2, June 3, 1987).