General Function

To investigate natural, unattended, and violent deaths and assist the Medical Examiner in major homicides

Distinguishing Characteristics

• This is skilled, forensic medical investigative work under the direction of the Medical Examiner.
   
• An employee in a position assigned to this class investigates the death scene, gathers facts, takes pictures and insures the preservation and storage of evidence, removes and transports body to morgue or designated facility, and prepares required reports.
   
• Work is performed under the general supervision of a higher graded employee and is reviewed for conformance with established policies and procedures through reports and conferences.
   

Representative Duties /Assignments

• Responds initially to calls involving reportedly natural deaths.
   
• Investigates the death scene, responsibility of the deceased person, clothing on the body and any article on or near the deceased, which may aid the Medical Examiner in determining cause and manner of death.
   
• Transports deceased to morgue, catalogue and file all related evidence.
   
• Photographically documents the scene and body location and prepares sketches of body and its relationship to scene.
   
• Elicits pertinent past and present history from persons associated with deceased, including family, physicians, and law enforcement personnel.
   
• Makes preliminary examination of the body (in absence of the Medical Examiner) with reference to identification of factors related to determining time and cause of death.
   
• Acts as official representative of Medical Examiner in record review, discussions and conferences with other agencies and giving depositions and courtroom testimony.
   
• Attends various training programs to maintain high standards and implement new methods of investigations.
   
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school or equivalent with some investigative experience in the medical, legal, law enforcement, insurance, or mortuary field, or a closely related field; or an Associate of Arts degree in one of the above areas.

Mandatory Special Requirements

Sufficient strength and physical and emotional stability to work under adverse conditions.

Class Code: #4092
Pay Grade: 014
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt