Texas- Harris County police do not agree with a Medical Examiners findings and then cast doubt on her credibility.

County officials are investigating a medical examiner who Houston police union officials say gave questionable findings in a recent trial of an off-duty officer acquitted of killing a bar patron.

Executive Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard confirmed his office is investigating a complaint against assistant medical examiner Dr. Mary Anzalone lodged by the Houston Police Officers Union. The union says the doctor's diagnosis that veteran officer Tommy L. Harris caused the victim's death by briefly placing him in a bear hug was not supported by the evidence and was disputed by another medical expert.

"Our office has received the complaint," Soard said. "We are looking into it and interviewing all the appropriate folks."

Roxanne Mena, spokeswoman for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, confirmed her office has requested court documents as part of an internal investigation of the doctor's testimony. Anzalone, who joined the medical examiner's office in May 2004 and earns $193,232, remains on staff performing her regular duties, Mena said.

In addition to disputing her ruling on the death, the union has accused Anzalone of bias against Harris, who was found not guilty by a Fort Bend County jury in March.

We believe that impeachment evidence that was brought to light during the cross-examination of Dr. Anzalone by Officer Harris's attorneys seriously undermined her credibility and the basis of her medical opinion," reads the complaint from police union president Gary Blankinship.


Link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7574541.html