The Georgia Coroner’s Training Council met Tuesday with Douglas County’s coroner operations squarely under the microscope, taking up formal complaints that deputy coroners handled death investigations and signed official paperwork without first being properly sworn or bonded. At the center of the hearing is whether those practices took place under the watch of elected Coroner Renee Godwin, whose office has already drawn fire in previous years.
The Georgia Public Safety Training Center’s online agenda lists a May 5 meeting "to discuss complaints and allegations regarding the Douglas County Coroner’s Office," according to the GPSTC minutes. Local reporting by FOX 5 Atlanta says the probe zeroes in on claims that deputy coroners signed reports, handled death certificates and conducted death investigations before they were properly sworn in or bonded.
What the council is examining
The council is sorting through whether deputies carried out legally significant duties, from scene work to certifying death certificates, without first meeting state requirements. Those prerequisites include being sworn and bonded and completing mandated training. Georgia’s administrative rules spell out that deputy coroners must complete approved certification, and that their training has to be verified to the council before they perform official duties, as outlined in the Georgia administrative code.
What the council can do
The training council’s toolbox is not just symbolic. It can investigate certification lapses, suspend or revoke credentials, and in some circumstances help trigger a process that could lead to a governor-backed suspension or a court petition for removal. That framework, and how it has played out in other coroner disputes, has been detailed in prior coverage, according to The Covington News.
Local history
This is not the first time the Douglas County coroner’s office has been in the spotlight. A 2019 grand jury recommended removing Godwin from office, and local news reports have documented earlier concerns about reporting practices and internal management. Coverage by WSB‑TV has chronicled past complaints about how child deaths were reported and how the office was run, while supporters and critics have continued to clash in public records and court filings in the years since.
The GPSTC agenda shows the council planned to hear public testimony and review documentation before making any decisions, according to the GPSTC minutes. Any formal move would come after that review and could include certification discipline or referrals to state authorities or the courts.
