Coroner Jorgensen Thanks Community In Farewell Message

DUPAGE COUNTY — After 12 years as DuPage County Coroner, Dr. Richard Jorgensen will be replaced by Judith Lukas, who won the general election in November. Jorgensen, who was proactive in efforts to reduce drug use and overdoses in the county, recently penned an open letter thanking community members for their support during his tenure.

"I would like to thank this and past DuPage County Boards for supporting me as we developed a state-of-the-art office," Jorgensen wrote. He mentioned that the DuPage County Coroner's Office employs "one of the [few], full-time Board Certified Forensic Pathologists in the state."

Touting the office's strides against the opioid crisis, Jorgensen wrote, "We had the funding to allow us to use national toxicology testing standards, thus, we were able to anticipate drug abuse trends and prepare for changes including the emergence and development of the fentanyl crisis."

He thanked the DuPage County Health Department, along with the DuPage County Chiefs of Police Association, for partnering with the coroner's office on the DuPage Narcan Project.

Jorgensen wrote, "Collectively, we have saved 2,000 lives. In my final review of yearly overdose deaths, I am encouraged to report that we have achieved another marked decrease in the number of overdoses. Based on data from the first three quarters of 2024, I project less than 90 overdose deaths this year. 90 deaths is still too many, but it is a significant decrease compared to 114 last year and 150 the year before, and the first year we have lost less than 100 lives to overdose since 2019. This is a positive trend."

Jorgensen, who served as DuPage County coroner during the COVID-19 pandemic, added that his office is equipped with an updated HVAC system and other equipment to help prevent cross-contamination.

"It is now a healthy and safe environment for staff who handle an annual 7,000 cases and stands ready to successfully face future pandemics."

He concluded,

"I am grateful for all the individuals, agencies, departments and Boards who have contributed to this success. I thank you for all you have done. Once again, I thank you for the honor of serving as DuPage County Coroner. I wish you all well."