East Idaho News
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Former coroner looks back on time in office and memorable cases he investigated
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November 5, 2023
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11:51Now Playing#eastidahonews #eastidahoelects #coronercases
IDAHO FALLS – Having the right motivations to do the job and the resources to be successful are Jon Walker’s values as an elected official.
The 63-year-old Palisades man is in his third year as a Bonneville County commissioner. Before that, he served as the coroner from 2000-2012.
The former firefighter and police officer was initially appointed to replace Vernal Rydalch, who passed away in 2020. Rydalch announced his retirement in 2000 after serving as coroner for more than 30 years. Walker was elected for the first time two years later in a contested race with his Democrat opponent.
In a conversation with EastIdahoNews.com, Walker recalled what he told county commissioners shortly after his inauguration.
“I said ‘I’m not here for a career. I’m here because there’s some things … that need to be fixed,'” Walker says. “(Once they are), I’ll resign.”
It took 12 years, but Walker was true to his word.
At the time, he says the coroner’s office was “poorly funded.” Autopsies were rarely done because there wasn’t a morgue or a forensic pathologist available. The coroner was a part-time position that was only paid $3,000 a year.
“You can only ask people to volunteer so much of their time to do terrible things,” Walker says.
Things are much different today. It’s a full-time position with an annual salary similar to county commissioners and other officials (around $45,000). A morgue and a forensic pathologist are readily accessible.
One of his proudest accomplishments is working with coroners in other counties to pass state legislation requiring a coroner to have basic training after taking office.
“It’s a required certification in forensics so they have an understanding of the science and what’s available. That law requires ongoing education for coroners for as long as they hold office,” he says. “It’s the only elected position that’s required to meet a scholastic standard … and I think that’s really important.”
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH WALKER IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
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