Coroner Scott M. Grim, Democrat, has announced he is seeking re-election for his fifth term in office.

He will seek the nomination of the Democratic Party in the May primary.

"I have proudly served the citizens of Lehigh County in this capacity since 1997 and will continue to provide the services the citizens have elected me to perform," Grim said. "In 1997, we investigated 2,340 deaths in comparison with over 5,700 investigations conducted in 2014. This is an increase of approximately 140 percent.

Grim, 55, said his office continually meets these demands required by state law.

The office of the coroner remains an independent investigative agency, conducting all death investigations with the highest degree of integrity, professionalism and with the highest degree of respect for the decedent and family member, Grim said.

As coroner, the county's chief death investigator, his main responsibility is to justify the cause and manner of death of persons who die within the coroner's jurisdiction.

"I will never lessen the integrity of an investigation for any reason or anyone," Grim has said many times over the years.

On Oct. 3, 2014, Grim and his staff opened the state-of-the-art Lehigh County Coroner's Office and Forensics Center, 4350 Broadway, South Whitehall Township.

With this new facility, Grim said, all autopsies and forensic services are now performed under one roof, which prevents any tampering of evidence, which is vital to criminal investigations and enhances the integrity of an investigation.

Grim assures the residents of Lehigh County his office will operate and respond to the needs of the community on a 24 hour basis, seven days a week, 365 days of year.

Grim has a staff of 19 full- and part-time employees.

Grim, who says education and training is extremely important, has an extensive background in medicolegal death investigations and forensics, and has attended numerous basic, advanced and master courses in these disciplines at Penn State University, Mercyhurst University, the FBI National Academy, St. Louis University School of Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Pennsylvania State Police Academy and the Miami-Dade Police Training Institute.

As a certified instructor with the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer's Education and Training Commission, Grim lectures at the Allentown Police Academy, Pennsylvania State Police Academy and the Coroner's Basic Education Training Program, teaching new coroners, deputy coroners and police cadets in forensics and death investigations.

Grim is the immediate past president of the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, past president of the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association and is currently a regional vice president and chair of the association's Strategic Planning Committee. He is also an accreditation auditor for the IAC&ME.

A member of Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Allentown, Grim is a lifelong resident of Allentown with his wife, Ann. They are the proud parents of two children, Justin and Jennifer.

Justin is married to Jennifer Jones. They are also the proud grandparents of two wonderful grandsons, Matthew and Nickolas.