CARPENTER, FRENZEL BATTLE IN CORONER RACE

John Carpenter has found the job of Cape Girardeau County coroner to be satisfying and a worthwhile act of public service. He is hoping voters will give him another term.

Edward A. Frenzel believes the coroner should be more aggressive in its investigations, particularly in deaths involving the elderly and young children. He is challenging Carpenter for the Republican nomination in the Aug. 4 primary.

Frenzel, who lives in Jackson, lost to Carpenter for the GOP nomination in 1988. In November 1988, Carpenter defeated incumbent Harold Cobb for the office.

"It has been a very challenging and exciting time so far," said Carpenter. "I have enjoyed a good working relationship with law enforcement agencies and the prosecuting attorney. I have a desire to continue working for the people of Cape County."

Carpenter is vice president and general manager of Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel and has more than 30 years of experience as a funeral director.

Frenzel, who is a licensed practical nurse at St. Francis Medical Center, works in the skilled nursing unit. Frenzel said it is time that people elected to the job of coroner have qualifications beyond serving as an embalmer or funeral director.

"We're becoming a big county here. We need to start doing things the right way," said Frenzel. "We can no longer say we need a funeral director for the job because he's got a hearse to bring the body to his funeral home."

Frenzel has a 10-point platform to illustrate the reasons he should be elected coroner. The first point in the platform is a concern about "the inherent conflict between the office of coroner and undertakers."

Although he does not accuse Carpenter of doing so, Frenzel points out that some coroners encourage families to have bodies taken to their funeral homes.

"Most undertakers have little or no training in the medical or legal aspects of death," added Frenzel.

Carpenter said he feels like his qualifications are superior to any of the other candidates, not only because of his experience in the job, but also his many hours of extra training from state and national associations.

He serves as district director for the 12 coroners in Southeast Missouri and is vice president of the Missouri Coroners and Medical Examiners Association. If re-elected, he will likely be president of the group next year.

Carpenter said although most people do not come into contact with the coroner's office, it does have an impact on citizens' lives because of the need to have thorough investigations of deaths and to know what the actual causes of death are under mysterious circumstances.

During his time in office, Carpenter said he has handled between 140 and 150 cases each year. The coroner is called out in cases of a homicide, suicide, accidental or undetermined natural death when the deceased was not under the care of a physician.

But Frenzel complains that Carpenter has not investigated enough deaths and said by having a better rapport with physicians and hospitals, as well as law enforcement officials, the coroner will be called on more often.

"I think there are suspicious deaths not being investigated because of a lack of rapport with receiving facilities," said Frenzel.

He suggested the coroner should be called to investigate more elderly deaths because many times the cause of death is not natural or an illness, but the result of improper care.

"Approximately three percent of all deaths in Cape Girardeau County are investigated, which is 75 percent below the average in Missouri counties with medical examiners," said Frenzel. "I'm sure that my medical background will help me create a more sensitive feel towards this situation."

Frenzel also believes autopsies should be done in all deaths attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He points out that this is an accepted practice nationally, but not followed by Carpenter.

Frenzel stressed that he would put a special emphasis on investigating deaths to determine the possibility of child or elderly abuse.

"With my years of nursing experience and medical experience, I will be more aggressive than Mr. Carpenter has been in cases of child and elderly abuse," he said.

Carpenter said he feels it is important to complete death investigations as quickly as possible, to keep from prolonging agony for the family.

"I told the people of Cape County when I ran for this office that I would handle the duties in an expeditious manner, so families don't have the agony of long waits on death certificates," said Carpenter.

Since taking office, Carpenter said he has tried to work closely with all agencies, process reports quickly and use common sense to run the office.

Carpenter also disagrees with Frenzel's assessment that funeral directors lack the kind of skills a coroner needs.

He noted that over the years he has seen all types of illness and causes of death.

"Basically, I have already had the training to run the office and continue to get more," said Carpenter. "All of my years of training are in death, dying and disaster and in being with families in one of their most tragic times, when they lose a loved one."

Frenzel said the coroner should be aggressive in investigating accidents where illegal drugs or alcohol use by minors were factors. He suggested the coroner could initiate investigations into who supplied the drugs or alcohol.