A report in the Altoona Mirror stated earlier this week, the coroner’s office had requested badges should be provided to all deputy coroners, but only 4 have been issued. County leaders told the office that it was not in the budget to have badges made. So local citizen Manny Nichols stepped forward this week and announced he will provide the funding necessary to have the badges created. Nichols said he was shocked by a story in the mirror this week about how the county said it could not afford to pay for the badges, or that it could not use money from any one specific account. Outgoing Commissioner Bruce Erb said that the badges are not necessary. But some disagree like Nichols, who say that the coroner employees are law enforcement too, and should be equipped with badges. Nichols will donate $2325, the cost for the badges and leather cases.
