Medical Death Investigator

Duties

Duties

• Officially pronounces death and coordinates with local police jurisdictions in the matters of evidence and death scene documentation.
• Receives initial notifications of death and responds to scenes of death to perform death investigation and take custody of body. Obtains custody of, removes and/or transports body and all pertinent evidence to ensure chain of custody.
• Locates next of kin and makes death notification, interview family regarding deceased and obtains past medical history, funeral home selection and disposition of remains and personal effects; communicates and sees to the needs of the distraught families, makes referrals as necessary.
• Conducts interviews of witnesses and pertinent persons relating to the death of the deceased, prepares oral and written comprehensive reports relating to each investigation, maintains records of each investigation and provides repots to official agencies when requested. Communicates details of investigations to the Coroner/Forensic Pathologist as appropriate.
• Coordinates the efforts of multiple experts and databases of outside agencies in order to properly collect and preserve necessary items to determine identification of deceased.
• Reviews requests for release of information and records to ensure that request fall within guidelines of applicable laws. Disseminates information to appropriate community partners in a responsible and accurate manner.
• Testifies in court of law in regard to death cases.
• Maintains electronic case record system and logs/records daily cases not requiring Coroner response.
• Assists in the storage and release of bodies, personal belongs, evidence and medications.
• Maintains inventory of investigative equipment and supplies.
• All other duties as assigned by the Coroner.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Knowledge of basic autopsy procedures, medical technology, physiology, anatomy.
• Considerable knowledge and demonstrated skill of the principles, practices, procedures, methods, equipment and techniques used in law enforcement and death investigations.
• Knowledge and demonstrated skill in the use of forensic practice and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, fellow workers, other police and legal agency officials, hospital staff and the general public.
• Ability to use and exercise sound judgement and react effectively in an emergency situation.
• Ability to prepare accurate and comprehensive reports, ability to report the results of laboratory tests clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

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

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• High School degree or GED
• Exposure working in a Coroner’s/Medical Examiner’s Office or related medicolegal environment

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 3+ years’ experience conducting death investigations
• American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigator Certification
• ***Any equivalent combination of education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job will be considered.

Supplemental Information

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR), background check, & drug screening.
• Required to work rotating on call shifts and during emergency situations, when requested.

Post-Employment Requirements:

• Successful completion of Colorado Justice Information System (CJIS) training.
• Must complete ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800. Must complete all training in order to obtain ABMDI within two years of hire and maintain certification through continuing education.
• May be required to complete additional training at the request of Arapahoe County Human Resources and the Coroner.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is generally based around a standard office environment with frequent exposure to weather conditions and road hazards during scene work, retrieval of a body and during gathering of information and evidence.
• This position is exposed to communicable diseases, obnoxious odors, and chemicals. Environment is one that is sometimes deemed extremely unpleasant and hazardous to the average individual.

OSHA WARNING:

• This position has been determined to be a HIGH exposure risk to ‘biohazards’ associated with blood-borne pathogens (HIV, AIDS, hepatitis B/C, etc.) and air-borne transmissions (TB, etc.). Employees are advised that exposure to a biohazard may result in severe illness or death. Employees are required by agency policy to use protective equipment and clothing. Inoculation may be required to prevent or treat exposures to biohazards.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position.

• Spends 60% of the time sitting and 40% of the time either standing or walking.
• Frequently lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 60 lbs.
• Frequently uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 60 lbs.
• Frequently climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Must be able to traverse rough, unimproved terrain on foot, in extreme weather and frequently stand, walk, stoop, kneel, balance, climb and crouch to perform job duties, often while simultaneously lifting. Must be able to safely lift, push, pull and carry one hundred pounds, including deceased bodies in tight quarters. Due to high potential for exposure, all Coroner staff is required to obtain Hepatitis B vaccination and tuberculosis testing. Vaccination for Hepatitis B and annual tuberculosis skin test are provided. Any staff who refuses such vaccination/testing must provide annually written documentation stating the reason(s), which will be kept on file.

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