Medicolegal Death Investigator

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Receive initial notification of death; confer with physicians, police agencies, fire departments, or other involved parties to determine the need for an investigation; conduct investigations of death and determine whether they resulted from overt or natural causes; perform thorough body examinations; evaluate the scene; collect and document items of evidence; photographically document the body and scene.
• Remove or facilitate the removal of remains from the scene; preserve trace evidence; initiate positive identification of the remains using fingerprints, dental records, photographs, medical records, and witness accounts.
• Identify and locate next-of-kin; complete in-person notifications within Multnomah County; identify and coordinate potential organ and tissue donors when appropriate; interview witnesses, next-of-kin, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel to ascertain circumstances, medical history, and the cause and manner of death.
• Remove and secure personal effects and evidence such as drugs, money, medication, weapons, and suicide notes; unload weapons; determine disposition of any involved vehicles; contact Animal Services for pets requiring housing; facilitate the return of collected items to next-of-kin, law enforcement, or Department of State Lands.
• Prepare comprehensive investigation reports for review by the State Medical Examiners (Pathologists); maintain current record of bodies housed at the State Medical Examiner's Office; release information to the media as directed by the State Medical Examiner's Office and in coordination with law enforcement.
• Respond to inquiries from families, funeral homes, hospitals, law enforcement, and other external customers; testify in criminal and civil proceedings relating to the cause and manner of death; perform educational lectures and public presentations during law enforcement training, at schools, and other organizations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

LEVEL AND TYPE OF WORK AND/OR SUPERVISION:

Medicolegal Death Investigator

• Journey level
• Technical
• Perform the full range of duties, working independently, applying well-developed subject knowledge, and exercising judgment and initiative.
• Receive occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise.
• Fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.
• Work is reviewed based on compliance, appropriateness, and effectiveness in meeting goals and deadlines.
• Receive general supervision from manager or staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Requirements are determined at the time of recruitment based on responsibilities of the individual position and business needs of the department.

Medicolegal Death Investigator

Training and experience for journey level, technical classifications are typically equivalent to an associate's degree and one (1) to four (4) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 3-6 years of qualifying training and/or experience).

Depending upon assignment, candidates may be required to pass a criminal background check, have a valid driver license, and/or additional training, licenses, or certificates.

REQUIRED TRAINING, LICENSES, AND/OR CERTIFICATES:

• Board registration with American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) within 18 months.
• State of Oregon MDI training and certification within 12 months.
• LEDS, DMV, PPDS database authorization within 6 months.