Thin Lines, New York Standards, and Training - Coroner Talk™ | Death Investigation Training | Police and Law Enforcement

Summary: <a href="https://coronertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Thin-Lines.jpg"></a><br> New York updates Coroner Standards<br> A new law signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday requires elected county coroners across the state to complete medical-legal investigation courses prior to taking office. This makes New York the 17th state to require training for coroners, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while four other states require that coroners be physicians<br> Specific requirements of the courses will be established by the Department of Health with input from the Commission on Forensic Science, the N.Y. State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the N.Y. Department of State and other professional groups, according to a summary of the bill, which was sponsored by Assemblyman John T. McDonald III (D-108th District).<br> “Deaths are difficult enough. Their cause and discovery need to be handled properly and state designated training is the right way to go,” McDonald said in a statement shortly after the bill passed in the state assembly on a 140-3 vote. The issue was brought to him by the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners, McDonald said in an article for the Times Union.<br> Coroners, unlike medical examiners, are not required to have any specific education or professional background except where specifically mandated by law—30 U.S. states have a coroner system for death investigations while 20 have a medical examiner system, according to the CDC. New York code states that, if a coroner is not licensed to practice medicine in the state, they must work with a coroner’s physician. However, McDonald stated on the assembly floor following his vote that coroners should still be required to have some training.<br> by <a href="https://www.forensicmag.com/node/17881">Laura French</a> – Associate Editor – Forensic Magazine<br> <br> <br> Thin Lines of Honor<br> The Thin Blue Line is a symbol used by law enforcement, originating in the United Kingdom but now prevalent in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Belgium , Switzerland, and Poland  to commemorate fallen and to show support for the living law enforcement officers and to symbolize the relationship of law enforcement in the community as the protectors of the community from criminals and victimization.<br> In the United States of America, each stripe on the emblem represents certain respective figures: the blue center line represents law enforcement, the top black stripe represents the public and the bottom represents the criminals. Proponents say that the idea behind the graphic is that law enforcement (the blue line) is what stands between the violence and victimization by criminals and the would-be victims of crime. Opponents note that the representations of the public and the criminals are identical, and suggest that the symbology ironically represents a police vs. everyone else mindset.<br> <br> <br> <a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Lives_Matter_flag.svg"></a><br> <br> <br> US flag based “Thin Blue Line”<br> <br> <br> <br> Proponents of the symbol assert that the identifier is intended to show support for police and the US flag-based version of the thin blue line has become a symbol for the Blue Lives Matter movement. In the wake of the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers, a US flag based version became even more popular among law enforcement personnel, their families, and supporters.<br> Variations<br> <br> * The Thin Red Line – fire and rescue services<br> * The Thin Silver Line – Corrections officer<br> * The Thin Yellow Line – Tow truck drivers and  Security Officers<br> * The Thin Green Line – Military, Conservation Officers, Park Rangers, Game Wardens, Border Patrol. In the United Kingdom, the Thin Green Line represents Emergency medical services.<br>