- September 12, 2024
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The Volusia County Council unanimously approved a five-year contract extension with Dr. James Fulcher, continuing his leadership of the Medical Examiner’s Office through September 2029.
Effective Oct. 1, this extension solidifies Fulcher’s tenure, which began in 2019, and reflects the council’s confidence in his continued success, a press release stated.
“I look forward to serving the citizens of Volusia County for another five years and beyond,” Fulcher said. “My office has achieved much in the past five years, and none of this would be possible without the support of the County and my excellent staff."
Under Fulcher’s guidance, the Medical Examiner’s Office has achieved significant milestones, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art facility and obtaining accreditation from the National Association of Medical Examiners.
During the council meeting, Fulcher shared key data from 2023, noting that the office directly investigated 2,034 of the 8,057 deaths in Volusia County due to reports of unnatural or unexplained causes while maintaining an average case completion time of fewer than 20 days, outpacing external benchmarks.
The office also reviewed 5,866 cases for cremation approvals as required by the state of Florida.
The report also showed a 10% decrease in overdoses and an 8% reduction in motor vehicle-related deaths. Homicides also decreased from 38 to 29.
Fentanyl remains a critical concern, accounting for 73% of accidental overdoses. Most accidental overdoses in the county were associated with males aged 40 and older.
