Office Investigator – Forensic (on-site)

Duties

Job Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Office Investigator – Forensic.

• Receive death calls from all counties/agencies under MMEO jurisdiction and complete case reports for all non-scene investigations.
• Coordinate and interact with all appropriate law enforcement and other investigative agencies to release evidence in a professional and courteous manner.
• Dispatch Field Investigators to death scenes and review and complete submitted scene cases, or respond to death scenes and complete on-scene death investigations as needed.
• Request identification and medical records and review for completeness.
• Identify and interview appropriate individuals to obtain relative medical and psychosocial history of decedent and the immediate history of events surrounding the death, including interviewing family and friends and providing support in times of grief.
• Complete preliminary autopsy reports and send to appropriate agency.
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with families when discussing autopsy/toxicology findings, answering questions, releasing property, etc. and assist families with paperwork when requesting private autopsy.
• Facilitate body intake and release, and review cremation authorizations and approve and/or follow-up on cases not approved.
• Perform administrative activities within the office while maintaining a high level of confidentiality.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to a subordinate group as assigned.

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

Requirements

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of job-related experience.
• In lieu of the required education, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
• Ability to lift to 100 pounds and to maneuver cadavers unassisted in excess of 200 pounds, with or without accommodation.
• Must have valid driver's license and vehicle available for business use.
• Possess or able to obtain within 2 years an American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (D-AMBDI) certification.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Degree in Physical, Biological, Social Science or related field.
• Previous experience working at a Medical Examiner’s Office.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality.
• Demonstrated skill and ability to investigate, collect, interpret and report information regarding: death scenes (interviews, photographic documentation, specimen procurement devices); medical history (diagnoses, diagnostics, intervention, therapeutic accidents, prognoses, medical reference materials).
• Demonstrated skill and ability to effectively communicate and respond to; grieving/highly distraught individuals, medical community, law enforcement, public safety agencies, funeral homes, community.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple activities while maintaining a high degree of precision.
• Knowledge of pharmacological and medical terminology and disease processes helpful.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Laboratory or morgue environment, indoor and outdoor field work sites based on assignment
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades, and brightness
• Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds
• Ability to detect, discern, and tolerate a wide range of visuals and scents required for safety and performance of essential duties
• Cognitive abilities required include problem solving, prioritization of tasks, short- and long-term memory, interpreting and understanding written documents, and general mathematical skills
• Assignments require several hours of varied physical activity in addition to viewing a computer screen, sitting at a desk, or walking/standing
• Physical activity may include repeated bending, stooping, reaching, frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work and handle medical equipment with a high degree of accuracy, and occasionally pushing carts weighing over 300 lbs.
• Regular lifting of 100 lbs. or more
• Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment in addition to Forensic equipment depending on assignment
• Forensic equipment may include but is not limited to syringes, scalpels, needles, bone saws, medical imaging equipment, and personal protective equipment
• Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions
• Occasional travel to other county work sites as needed
• Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle
• Exposure to bodily fluids, infectious agents, radiation, toxic or caustic chemicals, and other hazards is possible while performing essential duties
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions

Do you have the Education Required? See available on-line and campus-based degree programs now!