Title: Coroner
Company: County of La Plata, Colorado
Location: Ignacio, Colo.
As a passionate and goal-oriented professional, Janis Smith continues in her 29th year of forensic science as a coroner for County of La Plata, Colorado. In her ninth year as the La Plata coroner, she oversees criminal and suspicious activities, suicides and unintended deaths. She also assists in autopsies, handles the daily operations, investigates and responds to calls. Ms. Smith also manage the followups, does consulting, and lectures occasionally about the topic.
Ms. Smith was an emergency medical technician for 18 years and was the Coroner of Southern Ute Indian Tribe for six years. She is a member of Colorado Coroners Association volunteers as a CPR Instructor at Local Schools, and for the American Red Cross. The most gratifying aspects of Ms. Smith’s career are helping people who have experienced a loss in their life and finding the causes of people’s deaths.
