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Steve has served as the Chief Deputy Coroner at the Champaign County Coroner's Office since 2010 under the leadership of retired Coroner, Duane E. Northrup. Steve has completed over 550 hundred hours of training in death investigation and has conducted approximately five thousand death investigations. Steve is a member of the Illinois Coroners & Medical Examiners Association, International Association of Coroner’s & Medical Examiners, International Association of Arson Investigators, Past Secretary of the Fraternal Order of Police – Illini Lodge 17, Illinois Fire Chief’s Association, Past Vice President of the Champaign County Fire Chief’s Association, and Past President of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System – Division 28.

https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/guest-commentary/election-24-what-does-the-county-coroner-do/article_42559eaa-7f6d-11ef-b5b7-33b26745c551.html

During my 37 years in the volunteer fire service and 14 years at the Coroner’s Office, I have assisted families through some of the most traumatic times in their lives.

I have consoled families who lost their home to fire, helping them get connected to community services that would help them get back on their feet.

I know the feeling of devastation from having performed CPR on a cardiac patient to later learn they did not survive.

I have knocked on a door at two in the morning to inform a family that their loved one had passed.

I have read notes and watched suicide messages that were left behind, trying to explain to their families the feelings of hopelessness and despair they felt.

I have witnessed the effects of the opioid crisis on our community. This called me to action, becoming a partner with Rotary’s SMART program to train and distribute Narcan to save lives from opioid overdose.

I have sat with families as they shared fond memories of their loved one’s life.

I have witnessed too many times the inconsolable grief of the mother of a young homicide victim.

There were times I felt helpless in trying to assist families through those traumatic experiences. Often, it was just enough to hold a hand, listen to memories, or make phone calls to ask a friend to come be with the family.

These are chapters in my life that have made me a compassionate, caring, and dedicated, son, brother, uncle, friend, neighbor, fire chief, and coroner. 

I have proudly served our community with unwavering compassion, caring, and dedicated service to others, making me the most qualified to continue to be Champaign County Coroner.

I hope you will support my election for Champaign County Coroner. The citizens deserve an experienced, knowledgeable, and well-trained professional Coroner.

As Coroner, Steve will continue to serve the citizens of Champaign County by conducting honest and independent medicolegal death investigations while ensuring the highest level of compassion, dignity, and respect for the deceased and their families.

The Coroner's Office must conduct independent medicolegal death investigations as neutral experts, free from political pressure.  Justice is best served by an independent Coroner's Office.