Groundbreaking held for new medical examiner’s office

On Oct. 23, the most significant step toward the facility’s completion took place: a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility, which will serve Santa Rosa, Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.

Currently, the District 1 medical examiner’s office is in Pensacola, but in a process that has taken years, all four county commissions have agreed to construct the new office in Santa Rosa County, with all four counties paying part of the cost. The new facility is near Trump Blvd. and Gates Way in Milton. The project’s total cost has been estimated at $22.5 million with Santa Rosa, Escambia and Okaloosa paying $5,417,500 and Walton County paying $3,222,500. The project also has $3 million in state appropriated funds.

“This is a day that has been long awaited and finally coming to fruition thanks to the effort in support of so many despite being fractured across four counties and four different offices and buildings,” said Dr. Deanna Oleske, chief medical examiner.

Oleske said the new facility is not a luxury but a necessity. She said medical examiners are charged with uncovering the truth and providing expert testimonies in court that can lead to families’ finding closure.

During the ceremony, Oleske expressed her gratitude for Sen. Doug Broxson’s work securing state appropriations for the facility and State Rep. Alex Andrade advocating for the project. Oleske also thanked local law enforcement, including Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson, a medical examiner board member who spoke at the ceremony.

“It’s a great day for our county, and it’s a great day for Okaloosa and Walton, too, because they don’t have to drive as far anymore once this is completed. And I think it’s going to be a great facility,” Johnson said.

Dan Schebler, director of operations for the District 1 Medical Examiner Office, said all four counties will see an impact.

“Relocation of the medical examiner’s office to Santa Rosa County places the facility more in the operational center of the district. And it will improve efficiency and effectiveness for all four counties to have access to the facility,” Schebler said.

Broxson said it was impressive that the four counties eventually reached a unanimous decision on the new location. He also said that, to his knowledge, this was the first medical examiner’s office to receive state funding.

“I thought I was coming to a groundbreaking. I think I’m coming to my obituary,” said Broxson jokingly. “The legislature, in my knowledge, has never funded a medical center in this state, and you’ve got two appropriations. This is going to be an example not only for Florida but also for many other areas.”

Broxson said the groundbreaking ceremony was the last public event he would attend as a state senator, as his term expires in November.

State Attorney Ginger Madden works closely with medical examiner offices across the state to bring justice to people who have been killed. She said she is looking forward to the work that will be done at the new facility.

“The medical examiner’s office is essential to guarantee public safety but is also essential to the investigation or prosecution of death-involved criminal cases,” Madden said. “I have tremendous confidence in what you’re going to do to assist my office in its criminal investigations.”

The new medical examiner’s office is slated to be open in 18 months or January 2026. The Pensacola location will remain in operation until the new facility is open.