During a recent government meeting, public speaker Ashley from Nammy Contra Costa raised significant concerns regarding the consolidation of the sheriff and coroner's offices. Ashley argued that this merger poses serious risks, citing a troubling history of the sheriff's department in misclassifying deaths, particularly referencing the case of Angelo Quinto, who died from restraint asphyxia.

Ashley criticized the sheriff's reliance on controversial medical concepts such as \"excited delirium,\" which have been widely discredited, suggesting that these practices could be used to obscure the true nature of fatalities. Furthermore, Ashley highlighted the lack of medical qualifications within the sheriff's department, noting that one of the primary pathologists contracted by the office is not board certified.

This public comment underscores ongoing debates about accountability and transparency within law enforcement and medical examination processes, raising questions about the implications of merging these two critical functions.