2025 Conference – Day 1 Recap

2025 Conference – Day 1 Recap

Posted By: Alex Hill

April 15, 2025 | Announcements

Day one of our annual conference in Louisville is in the books, and it was a strong kickoff to an exciting week of learning, networking, and collaboration among coroners and medicolegal professionals from across the Commonwealth.

We opened the day with a warm welcome from KCA President and Madison County Coroner, Jimmy Cornelison, followed by remarks from Dr. Bill Ralston, Chief Medical Examiner for Kentucky. Dr. Ralston’s leadership and continued partnership are invaluable as we work together to advance medicolegal death investigation statewide.

Our morning continued with outstanding guest speakers:

  • Brian Bowling, Deputy Commissioner of the KY Department of Criminal Justice Training, brought insights from over 30 years in law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of training and continuous professional development.

  • We were also thrilled to have Commissioner Mike Bosse of the KY Department of Criminal Justice Training address the group. With over 41 years in public safety—including roles as Georgetown Police Chief and Assistant Chief in Lexington—his commitment to officer training and community safety is inspiring. We appreciate his leadership and the support of the DOCJT team.

  • Senator Matthew Deneen spoke with attendees and highlighted the legislative progress being made to support our field. His sponsorship of SB 17 and SB 37 reflects a thoughtful, practical approach to streamlining death investigations and handling unclaimed remains.

  • Secretary Keith Jackson, Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, brought a powerful message rooted in his decades of public service. From military leadership to fire service and veterans affairs, Secretary Jackson’s experience and support continue to strengthen Kentucky’s public safety network.

One of today’s highlights was our featured educational session:
“Medicolegal Death Investigations: Leveraging Data to Enhance the Standards of Practice.”
We were honored to host an incredible panel of speakers:

  • Dr. Michelle Rippy – Director, Forensic Science Research Center & Associate Professor, California State University East Bay (Hayward, CA)

  • Melanie Rouse – Coroner, Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner (Las Vegas, NV)

  • Alfie McGinty – Coroner, Marion County Coroner’s Office (Indianapolis, IN)

  • Daniel Chaput – Co-founder, Chaput Consulting

  • John Fudenberg – Executive Director, International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (Las Vegas, NV). With over 30 years in public service, including serving as the Coroner for Clark County, John has been instrumental in advancing best practices in death investigation and emergency preparedness.

Thank you to all who joined us for a successful first day. We’re just getting started—stay tuned for more updates throughout the week!