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Cook County Medical Examiner Stepping Down After Overhauling Office

CHICAGO (AP) -- Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says that Cook County medical examiner Dr. Stephen Cina is resigning June 5.

Cina took over in 2012 after the previous medical examiner resigned amid criticism that bodies were stacking up in the morgue. Preckwinkle says Cina took the office from "crisis to full accreditation."

Cina has been praised for making improvements, including more than doubling the number of pathologists on staff and installing a new case-management system to replace outdated technology. He also built a new automated cooler to house bodies.

Cina's deputy chief, Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, will serve as interim chief medical examiner.

Cina didn't give a reason for his departure. He is a former U.S. Air Force major who also had been a medical examiner in Florida and Colorado.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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