Tony Ciriello was elected coroner of Kosciusko County during a caucus Wednesday night at the courthouse.
Fifty-one precinct committeemen and women who voted.
Ciriello will serve until the end of 2016.
Tracy Wilson, wife of former coroner Michael Wilson, Warsaw-Wayne Township fire chief, also sought the coroner’s seat.
Michael thanked the party and the community for their support while he has served in the office.
“We want to be professional. It’s about our community and the citizens we serve and the families that we take care of,” Michael said.
Ciriello said he appreciated Tracy also seeking the seat.
“I think I bring a lot to the table. I have 34 years in law enforcement and announced my retirement from law enforcement effective this month,” Ciriello said.
Ciriello said in 1993 he was appointed deputy coroner in Kosciusko County and has served in that position ever since. In 1999 he was hired by Indiana’s State Coroner’s Training Board to train and oversee the training and certification process for all coroners and deputy coroners in Indiana.
“Currently, there are 92 serving coroners in the state of Indiana and approximately 450 deputies, and all but one of them have been trained by me,” Ciriello said.
He said he feels his experience in law enforcement, the coroner’s office and coroner’s training board makes him well suited to fulfill the coroner position. He said he plans to run the office with dignity and pride and take care of families involved.
“When a coroner knocks on your door it’s never good news,” Ciriello said. “The coroner has a very important job.”
He was appointed last year to Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s Public Safety Committee to represent coroners in Indiana.
Following the vote, Ciriello said he was thankful and overwhelmed.
“I want to thank Tracy for the competition and Mike for what he’s done for me the last three years he’s been in the coroner’s office,” Ciriello said.
He said Tracy and Michael have been his friends, and he considers them life-long friends.
(Story By The Times Union)
