“State statute permits the regionalization of medical examiners offices, so we are taking advantage of our geographic proximity to merge with Middlesex’s state-of-the-art facility,” Monmouth County Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso said. “We have been working with the Middlesex office for the past seven years, so we know that this merger will work for both counties.”

The Monmouth County Freeholders adopted a resolution on Feb. 11 to formalize the arrangement. The Middlesex County Freeholders adopted a similar resolution on Feb. 18.

“In building on that initial partnership, we will make better use of our state-of-the-art facility and increase our revenues for the next decade,” said Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios. “Our staff, under the supervision of our Medical Examiner Dr. Diane Karluk, has done an outstanding job in providing these very specialized services for our County and will now use that expertise to serve Monmouth County.” 

The term of the arrangement will be for 10 years, and Monmouth County will pay Middlesex County $1.4 million per year. The arrangement will save Monmouth County more than $1 million over 10 years.

“Monmouth and Middlesex began this partnership with a shared service agreement in 2009,” Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone said. “The success of that arrangement has led both counties to commit to a 10-year merger for this necessary service.”

“Middlesex County has a long tradition of partnering with other entities for Shared Services agreements that make both financial sense and improve or increase services,” said Middlesex County Freeholder H. James Polos. “We constantly look for ways to work with municipalities, counties and even the State to serve our residents in the most efficient and effective way possible,”

The Middlesex County Office of the Medical Examiner is located in North Brunswick.

The medical examiner’s office provides a highly specialized service to citizens and law enforcement. The office investigates all unexplained natural deaths and violent deaths in order to determine cause and manner of death. The office also preserves evidence, analyzes physical evidence and provides expert testimony in courts of law.

DiMaso is the liaison to the Monmouth County medical examiner’s office. Arnone is the liaison to the Monmouth County Office of Shared Services.

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