The bureau of justice assistance (BJA) strengthening the me/c system program grant will provide essential funding for the boone and callaway county medical examiners office (bcme) to achieve and…

The bureau of justice assistance (BJA) strengthening the me/c system program grant will provide essential funding for the boone and callaway county medical examiners office (bcme) to achieve and maintain accreditation. Accreditation from the international association of coroners and medical examiners (iacme) will hold the bcme to a higher standard of postmortem examinations, increasing public trust and directly supporting the efforts of law enforcement agencies across mid-missouri. This grant will specifically support the bcmes efforts to meet accreditation requirements through investments in medicolegal death investigator (MDI) training and certification, improved access to radiographic equipment, and the development of a safe, functional autopsy suite. Grant funds will enable two mdis to complete three training courses at saint louis university and the university of north dakota, establish a library of forensic reference materials, and SIT for the american board of medicolegal death investigators (abmdi) certification exam. Grant funds will also support the purchase of radiographic equipment and the replacement of multiple unsafe autopsy tables currently used daily by pathologists and forensic technicians. By the end of the 36-month grant period, the bcme will have achieved full accreditation with iacme, gained two additional educated and certified mdis, and established a safer, more efficient working environment. These outcomes will elevate the quality of medicolegal death investigations across mid-missouri.