Press Releases

Tuesday 09/12/2017 4:49 PM - Sheriff's Forensic Pathologist Hired

Contact: Tony Cipolla
Phone: (805) 781-4547
Type of Incident: Sheriff's Forensic Pathologist Hired
Date and Time of Incident: 9-11-17
Place of Occurrence: N/A
Victim Information: N/A
Suspect Information: N/A
Details of News Release: The Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the hiring of Joye M. Carter, MD as the County’s first full-time Sheriff’s Forensic Pathologist. Dr. Carter is a triple board certified physician who has specialized in the field of Forensic Pathology. She is a graduate of Howard University College of Medicine and Wittenberg University, respectively. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Dr. Carter is the first African-American to be appointed a Chief Medical Examiner in the history of the United States. Dr. Carter has worked as the deputy Chief Medical Examiner of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner Department, Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia, and Chief Medical Examiner of Harris County (Houston), Texas. She was the first African-American and female to be appointed as the Chief Forensic Pathologist to the Coroner of Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Carter is also a published author with three books to her credit and she is currently working on her fourth. Dr. Carter will perform all required autopsies, medical inspections and medical record reviews mandated by the Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. Additionally, she will be available during regular business hours, and on an on-call basis for 24/7 access for consultations, suspicious death or homicide scene visits, and court testimony. Dr. Carter has more than 30 years of experience in Forensic Pathology. She is relocating from the Houston, Texas area to become a full-time resident of San Luis Obispo County. Dr. Carter began her first day with the Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 11.

Prepared By: tcipolla
Released: Tuesday 09/12/2017 4:49 PM