Biography of the Coroner

Employment history:

Robert Gessner started his career in 1969 with the Kankakee Fire Department where he served as a firefighter for 30 years prior to his retirement in 1999. While serving as a firefighter, Gessner also worked part time teaching EMT, paramedic, and education classes. He also worked part time in St. Mary's emergency room and EMS office. Gessner became a Deputy Coroner in 1984 and was later appointed as Chief Deputy Coroner in 2000. When James Kelly left office at the end of 2003, Robert Gessner was appointed Coroner. He was later elected to the position in November of 2004.

Involvement:

Robert Gessner is a member and the secretary for the Illinois Coroners and Medical Examiners Assocation for a third term. He was a Chairman for the EMS Council for the Illinois Association of Firefighters, a previous president of Kankakee Firefighters Local 653(1976-1988), and is a current President Emeritus of Firefighters Local 653. He is a member of the Eastern Illinois Police Chief Association, the Joliet Crime Lab Advisory Board, the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce, The Knights of Columbus, the NAACP, and the Cook County Medical Examiners Disaster Response Team.

Training:

Robert Gessner is a certified Arson Investigator. He has also successfully completed firearms training, the Medico-legal Death Investigator training course, the master conference for advanced death investigation, a course on Unified Command, and a Practical Homicide Investigation class. He has passed the NIMS IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-700, and IS-800 National Incident Management System courses.