Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
1. What is the role of the coroner’s office in Anderson County?
The Coroner is responsible for investigating all deaths that are reported to our office to determine the manner and cause of death. We respectfully handle the remains while in our custody and to provide answers to families of their loved ones. We are professional and compassionate while dealing with citizens of our county. Being a good investigator looking for evidence and clues that can help determine why someone has died. This may include researching medical records, family history and talking to friends coworkers and relatives. The coroner is responsible for signing the death certificate, issuing Burial permits, and issuing Cremation permits. Testifying in court
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2. What are the biggest challenges facing the coroner’s office in day-to-day operations? As a coroner, we encounter the most stressful situations working with families that are dealing with life changing events that are devastating, the loss of a loved one changes there lives forever. Making a notification at 2 am knocking on a front door to let a family know that a loved one has been in a fatal accident really has an impact on our team. Getting answers from toxicology results many times takes months and families get frustrated with how long they take.
Seeing so many drug deaths that are preventable certainly is a challenge as the Coroner. I’m working with our city and county leaders and community organizations to make a difference. It will take great leadership and a caring community to make a positive impact. I’m optimistic that we can make a difference in the war against addiction and reduce the deaths from overdose’s.
3. How important is cooperation with other county officials to effective work of the coroner? it is so important that we work together. For the past 28 years, I have strived to build relationships and partnerships with all agencies in our communities. To be successful in serving our citizens we must work together. Being involved in public safety helps us share information and support for all our agencies that protect our communities. Our office has been so blessed to be supported by County Administrator Rusty Burns and his financial team and county council. Our office has grown as Anderson County has. 28 years ago we had a staff 3 and have grown to 15. I feel our office is well prepared for the future.
4. Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I’m really proud of the team that I get to work with every day they have been selected for their experience and their qualifications. They bring medical experience and law enforcement experience to our office and our support staff have a servant’s heart for serving our citizens and I’m most proud of each of them.
5. INCUMBENT ONLY: Of what accomplishments are you most proud during your tenure as solicitor? Working with Pickens, Abbeville, Greenwood county to partner with them to fund a full time board certified pathologist to serve our counties.
Working with our Administrator and county council to build a memorial wall to honor our citizens that needed our help to have a final resting place .
Applying for a grant from the opioid settlement with the help of county council to provide education to the public on drug addiction and abuse working with stakeholder’s in our community to provide pathways for treatment.
Recently we received a grant to help us become accredited We are prepared to compete accreditation in the fall of 2024.
Appointment by the governor to serve on the South Carolina vulnerable adult fatalities review committee currently Chair of the committee
It’s been an honor to serve you as coroner for the past 28 years, Coroner Wilton Mackey gave me the opportunity to serve as Deputy Coroner for 6 years prior to being elected 1996.