District Death Investigator

State of Oklahoma•Huntington, WV

About The Position

Location: District 7/Southeast Oklahoma. The selected applicant will be assigned to and must reside within one of the following counties: Latimer, Pushmataha, Choctaw, McCurtain, LeFlore, or Pittsburg. Salary: This position is on a 7-year pay scale, starting at $55, 800.00. With positive performance reviews, employees receive incremental increases until they reach the top of salary band, after 7-year period. Salaries are non-negotiable. Additional incentives are available after ABMDI certification benchmarks are met. Description of Duties: The selected applicant must meet the physical and mental requirements of the job. They will be subjected to violent, traumatic, unusual, unnatural, suspicious, and various other types of death investigations. This job requires an investigator to be a visible representative of this agency and adhere to agency policies and guidelines, as well as maintain the role of ambassador of the agency both on and off duty. An investigator will be required to gather information from a variety of groups and individuals that include law enforcement agencies, physicians, nurses, lawyers, grieving family members, and funeral directors. The job is also physically demanding, requiring the stamina and strength to work assigned shifts under all environmental conditions, drive safely for extended periods of time, endure frequent periods of sleep deprivation, lift, and move bodies (often more than 100 lbs.) as well as climb, bend, stoop, crawl or otherwise work in a confined or difficult conditions to investigate deaths and aid in decedent removals in various postmortem interval states. This job will require the ability to investigate any death reported to OCME, assume appropriate jurisdiction over deaths that fall under the statutory duties of this agency, and conduct required scene investigations. Strong writing and communication skills are required; documentation for each death call received is required, regardless of final OCME jurisdiction. Follow up tasks such as notifying providers of patient deaths, gathering medical records, requesting EMS and law enforcement reports, acquisition of relevant labs and/or items to aid in decedent identification are also required. Other job duties may be assigned by the Investigations Supervisor. The selected applicant will be required to complete training with the other in-house medicolegal death investigators, in Tulsa, OK. The length of training will be determined based on the level of skills development of the applicant, but you can expect a minimum of 8 weeks. Training will require periods of time away from family and friends, with various work hours. Upon completion of training the investigator will be assigned to field duty which will require the ability to function in a solo capacity. Coverage Area: District 7/Southeast Oklahoma - must reside within one of the following counties: Latimer, Pushmataha, Choctaw, McCurtain, LeFlore, or Pittsburg. The Eastern Office covers 25 counties, however as a state agency, if a scene need presents in any of the 77 counties, a response will be coordinated between both offices. There will be times when an investigator is required to travel outside of their normally assigned coverage area to complete scene investigations due to other employee time off/sickness, or unique situations requiring OCME response. Upon completion of training, the selected applicant will begin duty in assigned their district. Specific equipment items will be provided to you, including but not limited to uniform allowance, cell phone, laptop, hot spot, vehicle, camera, etc. that have strict usage requirements. Work Assignment/Scheduling: The work schedule is 24 hours on (waiting to be engaged) and 48 hours off, from 06:00-06:00 the following day. If you are engaged in a scene investigation at the end of your shift, you will be required to complete that investigation and report even after the scheduled “off” time. Investigators are subject to working nights, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather events. OCME is a 24/7/365 operation.

Requirements

Must meet the physical and mental requirements of the job.
Must adhere to agency policies and guidelines, as well as maintain the role of ambassador of the agency both on and off duty.
Strong writing and communication skills are required
Complete college level report writing.
Proficiency in basic computer applications is required.
Must maintain physical and mental stamina to perform the work and willingness to accept the physical and mental discomforts inherent in the work.
Applicants considered for hire must pass a rigid character and background investigation, be at least 21 years of age, and possess a valid Oklahoma Driver’s License and social security card or work visa.
Must reside within one of the following counties: Latimer, Pushmataha, Choctaw, McCurtain, LeFlore, or Pittsburg.

Nice To Haves

Experience with medical technology, emergency medical service or prior field agency employment in another medicolegal investigative office which is responsible for a similar product to that of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Oklahoma.
A degree in crime scene processing or law enforcement, with practical experience in death investigation, is preferred.
ABMDI certification is preferred or will be required within two years of employment.
At the option of the Chief Medical Examiner, years of experience in related fields may substitute for education or other stated qualifications.

Responsibilities

Gather information from a variety of groups and individuals that include law enforcement agencies, physicians, nurses, lawyers, grieving family members, and funeral directors.
Investigate any death reported to OCME
Assume appropriate jurisdiction over deaths that fall under the statutory duties of this agency
Conduct required scene investigations
Documentation for each death call received is required, regardless of final OCME jurisdiction.
Follow up tasks such as notifying providers of patient deaths, gathering medical records, requesting EMS and law enforcement reports, acquisition of relevant labs and/or items to aid in decedent identification are also required.
Complete training with the other in-house medicolegal death investigators, in Tulsa, OK.