Medical Examiner
About the Tarrant County Medical Examiner
Whenever we are called upon to assist, even if it is outside the defined jurisdiction, out of scope of our duties, or otherwise removed from our responsibility under the law, it is our general policy to help the individual reach the appropriate person, agency or organization who can assist.
- Nizam Peerwani
In the United States of America, there are three systems of
medicolegal death investigation including the Coroner system, Justice
of the Peace system and Medical Examiner system. Some states, such as
Texas, have a hybrid system that includes both a coroner or the
Justice of the Peace and Medical Examiner systems.
Any system that deals with medicolegal death investigation, must apply the rule that -- as far as possible -- eyewitness accounts must be verified by evidentiary investigation in order to establish the truth. Evidentiary investigation necessitates creating a systems-based approach that allows evidence to be analyzed scientifically. The system should be free of external influences and must be empowered to conduct investigations independent of law enforcement agencies or other parties. The application of a systems-based approach is influenced by laws, societal norms and, most of all, available resources. Such a system must include a central facility with a secure place to preserve and examine human remains, and forensic laboratories to verify and reach a scientific conclusion worthy of admittance in a court of law.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's District is an example of
such a system. Serving four counties (Tarrant, Parker, Denton and
Johnson) in the state of Texas, with a combined population exceeding 2
million, it is governed and legislated by Section 49.25 of the Texas
Code of Criminal Procedure. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's
District attempts to identify and explain both the cause and manner of
death in cases where the death has occurred unattended or unexplained,
or where the death is due to unnatural causes.
Mission Statement
The primary purpose of the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office is to assist the public and law enforcement agencies to determine the cause of death due to unnatural causes, medically unattended or death due to violence, using state of the art laboratory and forensic science facilities.
- Nizam Peerwani
Historical Timeline
1965
Tarrant County Commissioners Court establishes the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. T.C. Terrell, M.D. is named Chief Medical Examiner.
1969
Feliks Gwozdz, M.D. is named Chief Medical Examiner.
1979
After Dr. Gwozdz’s unexpected death, Nizam Peerwani, M.D. is appointed Chief Medical Examiner.
1980
First county-wide central morgue is established on the campus of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM), now known as the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
1982
Toxicology and histology laboratories are added; shortly afterwards, forensic dentistry is added to the office in order to assist in human identification.
1986
Parker County officially joins the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, creating the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s District.
1989
Denton County joins the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s District.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s District moves into a new state-of-the-art facility located at 200 Feliks Gwozdz Place and renamed in honor of Dr. Gwozdz. In addition to modern toxicology and histology laboratories, the new facility also includes a full-service crime laboratory offering forensic biology, trace evidence analysis, latent fingerprint examination, and both firearm and toolmark examinations.
1993
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s District provides the death scene investigation and medical examiner services for McLennan County in the aftermath of the Branch Davidian incident at Mt. Carmel, Texas.
2003
The position of Forensic Anthropologist, formerly a part-time position within the office, becomes a full-time position making the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s District the only medical examiner’s office in Texas with a full-time forensic anthropologist.
2007
The Human Identification Laboratory is established, consisting of a Forensic Odontologist, Forensic Anthropologist, and Latent Fingerprint Examiner.
2008
Johnson County joins the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s District.
2011
Construction is completed on the new bond-funded building expansion to accomodate new criminalistics, toxicology and chemistry laboratories.
Table of Organization
TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS
County Telephone Operator 817-884-1111
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100 E. Weatherford, Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Copyright 2001-2016 Tarrant County, TX