New chief medical examiner in Delaware

A former deputy chief medical officer in Philadelphia has been named Delaware’s new chief medical examiner.

Dr. Gary Collins will takeover the medical examiner’s office following the scandalous departure of former Delaware medical examiner Richard Callery in July. Callery was suspended in February after the first allegations of misconduct were first reported.

Callery was accused of taking paid side jobs while ignoring problems within the office. As a result, hundreds of drug cases were jeopardized after an audit discovered there were at least 51 pieces of potentially compromised evidence including marijuana, Oxycontin, heroin and cocaine.

It’s under that cloud that Collins takes the helm of the the medical examiner’s office. “I look forward to working with the Division [of Forensic Science] and enhancing the practice of forensic science in Delaware,” Collins said in a statement. Collins has performed thousands of autopsies and spent seven years in the Philadelphia ME office.

“Working to get the new Division of Forensic Science fully operationally [sic] is a top priority,” said Delaware Governor Jack Markell. “[Collins] stands ready to help us meet the challenges ahead as the division moves forward with its transition.”

Following the Callery accusations earlier this year, the General Assembly moved the functions of the chief medical examiner were moved from the Department of Health and Social Services to the newly created Division of Forensic Science under the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. That move got quick approval from state lawmakers despite being criticised by national medical examiners’ groups,