The Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) announced that Clinton County Coroner, Ed Cripe received the 2025 Outstanding County Coroner Award. The award recognized his contributions to county government throughout his years of public service.
Ed Cripe has dedicated his career to serving the community of Clinton County since 1997. He began his journey in the coroner’s office as a deputy coroner, appointed by then-Coroner Larry Fish. In 1998, Ed became a certified medicolegal death investigator through the State of Indiana.
In 2004, Ed was elected as Clinton County Coroner, serving from 2005 to 2013. During that time, he actively contributed to the Indiana State Coroner’s Association, serving as Secretary/Treasurer and ultimately as President in 2012 and again in 2024. His leadership extended beyond the state level, as he also served as a deputy coroner for Tippecanoe and Carroll Counties until 2020.
In 2021, Ed was re-elected as Clinton County Coroner. One of his key initiatives has been the development of a county morgue, which opened in November 2021 with the support of the Clinton County Board of Commissioners and County Council. This facility helps streamline autopsies, maintain chain of custody, and reduce costs associated with transportation to other counties.
Throughout his career, Ed has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Indiana IN-time Traffic Management Committee, Indiana Association of Indiana Counties, Indiana Donor Network, Indiana State Child Fatality Review Team, and the Indiana Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, to which he was appointed by the governor.
The award was presented during AIC’s 67th Annual Conference in Orange County. The AIC’s Annual Conference is the largest gathering of county officials in the state. Representatives from public agencies, private entities, and local elected officials addressed issues such as: Social Security, HR, AI, Cost- Saving Strategies, Managing Growth, Cybersecurity, Economic
Development, State and Federal Funding Projects and Senate Enrolled Act 1 and the changes to Local Government Finance.
