This piqued my interest. Noble work indeed. 'A mortician with a badge' makes his rounds in California - latimes.com Abner
Speaking of a mortician with a badge, some counties out West have combined 2 offices, so the sheriff is also the coroner for the county.
The same reason they have embalming, even though it isn't required by law or to have a suitable for open-casket body: It's a way for the funeral industry to make some extra money.