The position of Coroner requires a mix of both medical and legal skills. Dr. E. Shannon Cooper is uniquely qualified for this position, as Dr. Cooper is both a pathologist and an attorney.

Dr. Cooper has thirty-five years of experience as a Medical Doctor and as a Physician Executive. He is a veteran having served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy.

Dr. Cooper has served the people of East Baton Rouge Parish as Coroner since 2004. In 2005, East Baton Rouge Parish suffered the twin disasters of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office was charged with the identification of ninety five persons whose deaths were attributed to the storms by the Louisiana Health and Hospitals. Under Dr. Cooper's leadership the Coroner's Office was successful in identifying all of the ninety five storm related victims and assisted in the return of the bodies to the affected families.