Kansas City, Mo. ? Prosecutors in four northwest Missouri counties are threatening to send autopsies elsewhere to avoid work by a deputy medical examiner whose credibility has been questioned in the past.

The prosecutors from Clay, Platte, Cass and Clinton counties wrote a letter to Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields asking that she take steps to “eliminate” problems associated with Thomas Gill.

Since last summer, the prosecutors have said they were concerned that past alcohol problems and other issues could jeopardize Gill’s credibility when testifying in court.

The prosecutors did not specify what they wanted Shields to do. But in the past they have asked that Gill be restricted from performing autopsies on their homicide cases. Jackson County could lose more than $300,000 if the four counties send their autopsies elsewhere.

Gill said his competency would overcome his previous problems with alcohol.

The prosecutors’ letter to Shields was written on the letterhead of Jackson County Prosecutor Mike Sanders, who supports the prosecutors.

Shields’ spokesman Ken Evans said she had not received the letter and could not comment.

‘Eliminate this problem’

In their letter, prosecutors said: “We believe that this problem will only continue to get worse, adversely affecting law enforcement and the public safety. We are jointly requesting that you take the appropriate steps to eliminate this problem. If you do not agree to our request, we will be forced to find alternative facilities to perform the services currently provided by the Jackson County Medical Examiner.”

Clay, Platte and Cass county commissions would have to approve canceling their contracts with Jackson County. Clinton County has an elected coroner who decides where to send autopsies, Young said.

Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said the letter was not a personal attack on Gill but a matter of public safety.

“I don’t want to criticize him for his past,” Zahnd said. “I’m not even sure the attacks on Dr. Gill are fair or warranted, but they have been made and will continue to be made (at trial). Cases every day rise and fall on the credibility of the witnesses and we are interested in having credible witnesses.”

‘I stand by him’

Jackson County Medical Examiner Thomas Young said he supported Gill.

“Dr. Gill has done nothing wrong,” Young said Thursday. “He is eminently qualified. … I stand by him even if it means me leaving this job.”

Gill said he had testified successfully in trials, even when defense attorneys had attacked his past. That happened most recently in a shooting death trial in February, and prosecutors won a conviction.

However, Sanders’ spokesman said in that case the prosecution didn’t rely on Gill’s finding about cause of death.

“We’re concerned about when the cause of death is an issue,” John Liebnitz said.

DUI, prior dismissal

Gill was charged with drunken driving in 1994, but said he entered treatment and has been sober for almost 11 years. He also was dismissed from the Indianapolis coroner’s office and had his Indiana medical license suspended.

In 2001, the Sonoma County, Calif., district attorney dismissed a murder case amid questions about Gill, then the county’s medical examiner, having rehearsed testimony with a speech therapist. However, Gill said the state attorney general later said he had not testified falsely.

He said his Indiana license was suspended in spring 1995 when a miscommunication allowed him to take a position in California without first receiving permission from Indiana. Gill said the matter was resolved, and his Indiana license was restored in June 1995. The license has since lapsed.

Gill said he was investigated before receiving his Missouri medical license in January 2003. And Young said he knew about Gill’s past when he hired him on Nov. 1, 2002.