Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill informed commissioners Thursday that long-standing Medical Examiner, Dr. Vernard Adams, is retiring at the end of June. The memo from Merrill says Adams has been chief medical examiner for 21 years and, given other retirement announcements over the past year, is currently the longest-serving department director. One little tidbit: He has overseen 26,000 autopsies, performing 3,900 personally. The memo is attached below. The county will begin recruiting for his replacement immediately.