Forensic Death Investigator II - Medical Examiner

Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Gathers information and data and performs intermediate professional level analysis, which may involve any or all of the following activities: receives initial notice of death from public or government agencies, initiates investigations, determines medical examiner's jurisdiction, notifies and exchanges information with other public agencies when necessary, and receives and logs in incoming bodies to the morgue.
• May direct the work of clerical and support staff. May train and assist newly assigned investigators or staff. May recommend actions or participate in implementation of departmental programs, policies, procedures, or other professional activities.
• Troubleshoots and resolves problems and issues that may include responding day or night to death scene locations for on-scene investigation; driving a County vehicle to locations throughout Tarrant County when performing County business; traveling by any means necessary to conduct investigations and perform duties in areas of difficult accessibility, limited visibility and mobility, or adverse conditions; assuming control of and responsibility at crime scenes or other locations by coordinating and directing duties with patrol officers and crime scene officers; establishing identity of a deceased person; performing thorough investigations into the circumstances of a death; examining the body of the decedent and scene surroundings; assessing for signs of death and environmental variables; taking custody of money, valuables, and other property; listing and receipting personal property and evidence; arranging for removal of bodies to the morgue; being responsible for recognizing and preserving physical evidence,
• drugs, medical devices, related paraphernalia, and trace evidence and coordinating handling and collection of same with departmental criminalists or officers of other agencies; and using field photography, measuring, and other scene investigation tools as required.
• Communicates with appropriate staff or citizens in performance of duties that may include such actions as notifying next-of-kin in deaths; establishing rapport through interviews with or assisting citizens or parties of interest; interviewing witnesses, friends, relatives, and suspects to obtain information about the decedent and circumstances of death and related matters; contacting representatives from other law enforcement and criminal justice entities for follow-up investigations; providing information to various agencies, obtaining information from governmental and private agencies, physicians, nurses, and other persons as needed, and relating that information to the death investigation; and obtaining medical history on deceased from family, physicians, and hospitals.
• Documents, maintains, and updates required records, files, and statistics as such pertains to departmental and work group operations; studies evidence and submits as needed for professional examination; enters data into computerized records management system as required; prepares investigation and case reports of circumstances, pertinent data, and evidence for filing with the medical examiner's office and other appropriate agencies including law enforcement, district attorney, hospitals, etc.; enters information related to the location of incident and death for completion of relevant portions of the death certificate in compliance with regulations of the state registrar of vital statistics; records case and departmental activities information in logs and ledgers; prepares and produces periodic management, investigative, or special reports. Files completed cases with the Medical Examiner's Office.
• Ensures compliance with any or all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and policies and may update staff or work group on applicable changes. Provides information regarding state laws and codes as well as departmental policy and procedures in response to inquiries from members of the medical profession, law enforcement, governmental agencies, funeral homes, and the general public.
• Testifies in court or under deposition regarding the findings of an investigation of the circumstances of death; prepares reports leading to search/seizure or arrests, subpoenas, or other civil process documents; executes subpoena service; and acts as inquest court bailiff.
• Works with funeral homes and crematories to troubleshoot death certificate discrepancies to meet Vital Statistics standards. Investigates cremation permit rejections to determine if trauma or foul play was involved in the death.
• Monitors building security and safety by interacting with alarm companies, video cameras systems, call boxes, and door access systems. Assesses building emergencies and initiates appropriate actions.
• Communicates, coordinates, and documents interactions with organ and tissue procurement organizations.
• Operate and monitor radio systems for the Forensic Death Investigation and for building Facilities staff. Operate emergency vehicles and equipment as needed to respond to death scenes and disasters. Responds to Emergency Management disasters involving fatalities.
• Utilizes civilian and law enforcement computer databases to further the inquest investigation goals. Use forensic equipment to assist in the identification of the decedent.
• May supervise investigators by providing training, monitoring work and evaluate productivity. May also direct the work of clerical/support staff.
• Attends training as required from licensing or accreditation boards to include the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI), Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), and the National Association of Medical Examiner’s (NAME).
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

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

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Must have computer skills.
• Must have intermediate knowledge of medical and legal terminology.
• Must have intermediate knowledge of investigative procedures and techniques.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a wide variety of individuals in order to investigate the circumstances, manner and cause of death, establish a decedents’ true identity, and write acceptable and accurate reports of investigative findings.
• Must have the ability to work a minimum of forty hours per week to include some nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must have the physical ability to respond quickly to emergency locations and to work extended shifts as necessary.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Two (2) years coroner, medical examiner, or other field-based forensic death investigation experience. Field-based investigative experience must have included duties such as interviewing witnesses and participants, following leads, crime scene management, searching for physical evidence, documenting evidence, using evidence to substantiate findings and conclusions, examining records to detect relevant information, reconstructing events, preparing reports of investigative findings, and providing courtroom/deposition testimony.
• Current and valid driver license.
• Within one (1) year of hire, successful completion of Medicolegal Death Investigation course or equivalent.

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