Wes Riber
Coroner
Wes Riber - Coroner
Wes Riber worked for the Colorado State Patrol from 1980 to 1991. During that time he was assigned to the Governor’s Security Unit and his last duty station was Castle Rock. Riber’s technical specialty was Medical Education. After leaving the State Patrol, he and his wife, Julie, owned a successful construction business. In 1995, he started working part-time with the Coroner’s Office. In 2002, Riber was elected to the office of Coroner. He has been active in the Colorado Coroners Association including developing an assist team for disasters and was the legislative liaison. In 2006, Governor Owens appointed Riber to the first Coroners Standards and Training Board, of which he is the Vice Chairman.
The County Coroner, through a medicolegal discipline, investigates and establishes the cause of death for situations involving external violence, unattended death, thermal, chemical or radiation injury, criminal abortion, contagious disease, sudden death, industrial accident, or malpractice or negligence incidents resulting in death. The Coroner or his staff is on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No matter what the situation might be someone is always available to respond to a call or be accessible for a family that has a question or needs help.
The Douglas County Coroner’s Office is a founding member of the Colorado Coroners Association. There are Coroner Office personnel that are recognized for their expertise and leadership in Disaster/Mass Fatality Management. The office works in conjunction with more than 12 different law enforcement agencies and organizations including the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Team, 11 different fire districts, several nursing homes, doctor offices and hospitals both in and out of Douglas County.
The Coroner’s Office has perfected the art of making plaster casts of the hands and feet of infants and young children. One of the hardest cases for anyone to deal with is the sudden death of an infant or small child. The casts of the hands and feet provide the families with a permanent remembrance of their child and lets them feel that their child was cared for with peace and dignity.
The Coroner’s Office teaches various programs in high schools in Douglas and Arapahoe counties. Tours are given to groups and schools. Elementary and junior high school students are the most fascinated with the tour. These groups are all given pictures of their groups in the morgue. These have become collector’s items at the local elementary and junior high schools. Douglas County Coroner’s Office also participates in high school internship programs with various Douglas County High Schools.
The staff worked with the Sheriff’s Office and the 18th Judicial District Drug Education Awareness program that was produced by DC8 TV. This program was presented to local schools and organizations. The Coroner’s Office also participates in Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and works with the Sheriff’s Office to increase the awareness of high school students and Cub Scouts in what the Coroner’s Office does. The Coroner’s Office works with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to sponsor a Child Identification Program.
