Broward ME's Farewell At The Signature Grand
DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Family, friends and colleagues came together Sunday to celebrate the career of former Broward Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua Perper.
The farewell celebration, held at the Signature Grand, took place on Perper's last day on the job.
During the goodbye party a number of speakers including Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry, Broward County senior judge Joel Lazarus, Broward Assistant State Attorney Joel Lazarus toasted Perper's professionalism over the last 17 years, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
Sherri Baker, Perper's administrative assistant for 15 years, said it's an afternoon of tears and laughs.
Perper announced on September 7 that he would be stepping down as Broward County's M.E. less than a week after Florida Governor Rick Scott asked for more names to be submitted for the Broward County Medical Examiner's job.
Perper became a celebrity during the Anna Nicole Smith event. His office conducted the examination and autopsy of Smith after she was found dead in a hotel room.
But questions were raised about Perper's office last year when federal agents found the high-profile death of the widow of the founder of the Fontainebleau to be murder, not a slip and fall accident as Dr. Perper's office initially ruled.
Perper also recently suffered a personal embarrassment after his son, also a doctor, was charged with drug trafficking after raids on South Florida pain clinics.
Governor Scott gave no timetable on announcing a replacement for Dr. Perper. In September, the Broward Commission passed a measure calling for the county's attorney to draw up a law which would allow them to pick Perper's replacement instead of the governor, according to the Sun-Sentinel. If it is passed, the next ME will be hired by Henry.
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)
