Stone retiring as St. Clair County coroner

St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone will retire after his term is up, ending a 34-year career.

The news came as St. Clair County Democrats on Thursday night were selecting who they would endorse for the March primary and November 2016 general election. They picked retired Illinois State Police trooper Calvin Dye to endorse for coroner.

Stone said Dye was a fine candidate.

Dye is chairman of the Metro East Police District Commission, which is working on training and improving the police departments in East St. Louis and surrounding communities. He is 67, was raised in East St. Louis and lives in Caseyville.

After retiring from State Police in 2003, Dye was rehired by the agency on a contractual bases for five years to investigate Medicaid fraud.

“When that contract expired, Mearl Justus, who was the St. Clair County sheriff, hired me as assistant chief of bailiffs in St. Clair County and in East St. Louis courthouses,” Dye said.

After 22 months in that position, Dye began working for the St. Clair County state’s attorney, assisting prosecutors with violent-crime cases.

“I’ve been a public servant for 40 years, and this is a great opportunity for me to serve the entire county as a public servant,” Dye said. “It’s also a great career move for me at this point in my life. I believe I can enhance the professionalism in the coroner’s office.”

The general election is in November 2016. The primary is in March.

“I am thankful to Stone for his support,” Dye said. “He said he is supporting me 100 percent and will be working to help me during the campaign.”

Dye and his wife have three children. His son, Calvin Dye Jr., is a state policeman and spokesman for the local District 11 based in Collinsville.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 9:25 AM with the headline "Stone retiring as St. Clair County coroner."