After four terms as York County Coroner, Barry Bloss is stepping down. He will not be running next year.
By the end of this term Barry Bloss will have been the County Coroner for 16 years. He's 72, and says it was time for him to retire.
Even before Bloss took over as York County Coroner 15-years-ago, he had been investigating deaths. He spent 26-years as a police offer, and 22 of those as a detective.
After four terms, the 72-year-old will not run again for Coroner next year. "You always miss it as you look back. When i first left the police department, I missed it after 26 years. But eventually other things fill your life and you can go on."
His work has adapted, as technology and investigating procedures have adapted. He remembers the murder of Christina Colon, a pregnant Lancaster County woman whose body was found in a York County quarry in 2004. "We found a body but the skull was in 17 pieces. So we put it all together in pieces, like a puzzle."
It was just one of thousands of deaths he's investigated but proved how teamwork between his office and police could bring a murderer to prosecution.
He's also proud of the work he's done to reduce traffic deaths, getting into schools and warning about dangerous driving and seat belt use. The year he took over, there were 85 traffic deaths. This year, that number is down to 29.
He says seeing death was part of the job, while always traumatic, it was the other requirement as coroner that weighed on him. He was responsible for telling loved ones, face to face, each time there was a death. "So you're somewhere, now i have to go to home inform a parent, wife, spouse that their loved one isn't coming home. That's the hardest part of the job."
Bloss will remain Coroner through the end of next year. He says he announced his plans to retire early so others could campaign.
By the end of this term Barry Bloss will have been the County Coroner for 16 years. He's 72, and says it was time for him to retire.
Even before Bloss took over as York County Coroner 15-years-ago, he had been investigating deaths. He spent 26-years as a police offer, and 22 of those as a detective.
After four terms, the 72-year-old will not run again for Coroner next year. "You always miss it as you look back. When i first left the police department, I missed it after 26 years. But eventually other things fill your life and you can go on."
His work has adapted, as technology and investigating procedures have adapted. He remembers the murder of Christina Colon, a pregnant Lancaster County woman whose body was found in a York County quarry in 2004. "We found a body but the skull was in 17 pieces. So we put it all together in pieces, like a puzzle."
It was just one of thousands of deaths he's investigated but proved how teamwork between his office and police could bring a murderer to prosecution.
He's also proud of the work he's done to reduce traffic deaths, getting into schools and warning about dangerous driving and seat belt use. The year he took over, there were 85 traffic deaths. This year, that number is down to 29.
He says seeing death was part of the job, while always traumatic, it was the other requirement as coroner that weighed on him. He was responsible for telling loved ones, face to face, each time there was a death. "So you're somewhere, now i have to go to home inform a parent, wife, spouse that their loved one isn't coming home. That's the hardest part of the job."
Bloss will remain Coroner through the end of next year. He says he announced his plans to retire early so others could campaign.