Medicolegal Death Investigator

Duties

TYPICAL CLASSIFICATION ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Perform professional work of moderate difficulty investigating unattended and unnatural deaths and assist law enforcement agency personnel as requested.
• Document and process evidence for law enforcement agencies.
• Maintain sanitary condition of the facility, equipment, and instruments.
• Properly handle safe disposal of biological and biohazardous materials.
• Take photographs and fingerprints.
• Operates various equipment, including but not limited to, scales, autopsy saw, aspirator, x-ray machine, cameras, and computers.
• Observe the death scene, prepare reports, gather information, and maintain records.
• Collect, preserve, and secure decedent and evidence and document all handling of body and personal property.
• Assist with the identification of evidence at crime scenes, respond to requests for photographs, and photograph death scenes and decedents.
• Interview, solicit statements from, and provide information to witnesses, physicians, police officers, relatives, and persons last in attendance or present at the time of death.
• Identify evidentiary value of items at the death scene and recommend items to be taken into evidence.
• Assist the forensic pathologist or medical examiner with the decedent evaluation and postmortem examination.
• Transport decedent to designated location and document transfer of body and property.
• Obtain or coordinate positive identification of bodies through visual personal identification affidavit, x-ray, dental records, descriptive evidence, and fingerprint records.
• Assist with body transportation, cremation authorization, and other services authorized by Arizona Revised Statutes.
• Administer and supervise the processing of death certificates, property records, and body handling records.
• Prepare necessary reports and document evidence for court proceedings.
• Package, store, and safeguard property and evidence and enter and update data into computer system, log books, and case files.
• Work with other state and regional law enforcement and health services agencies on complex incidents.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records, and restricted County information.
• Perform other related duties as required.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics or Forensic Psychology

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• Associate's degree in Health Sciences, Criminal Justice, or related field.
• One (1) year of work experience in forensic science or investigations.
• Valid Driver's License with Arizona Driver's License within 30 days of hire.
• Certification by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) basic certification board is required within two (2) years of hire.
• Or a combination of experience and/or education may substitute for the minimum requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Federal and state laws and rules for the storage, transfer and disposal of evidence and property, and regulations governing the release of information from public agency records.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of law enforcement records management.
• Knowledge of state laws and statutes governing the rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of geography, roads, and landmarks of County and surrounding areas.
• Knowledge of regional community services and resources available to citizens.
• Skill in collecting, processing, and preserving death scene evidence.
• Skill in determining cause and manner of death.
• Skill in packaging and organizing property and evidence in an orderly fashion for storage and retrieval.
• Skill in interpreting and applying statutes, rules, ordinances, codes, and regulations.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public and handle stressful situations and angry people.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and medical terminology.
• Skill in performing precision surgical cutting techniques with surgical instruments and autopsy saw.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, stand for extended periods of time and perform heavy lifting.

Physical Demands:

• The work is very heavy work and requires exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The work also requires the ability to climb, crawl, crouch, finger, feel, grasp, handle, perform repetitive motion, kneel, lift, pull, push, speak, hear, stand, stoop, walk, operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment, and demonstrate visual and mental acuity. Exposure to infectious diseases, deceased bodies, human organs, bloodborne pathogens, human fluids and hazardous chemicals.

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an environment where errors can lead to significant physical or mental consequences.

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