Medicolegal Death Investigator

Ozaukee County•Port Washington, WI

9d•$31 - $34

About The Position

The Medicolegal Death Investigator assists the Ozaukee County Medical Examiner with death investigations when the Medical Examiner is unavailable or when simultaneous calls for service occur. The Medical Examiner’s Office responds to death reports throughout the year, including evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays. The office is responsible for determining cause and manner of death, identifying deceased individuals, and locating and notifying legal next of kin. Investigators use available evidence, prior experience, and deductive and inductive reasoning to determine manner of death, consulting a forensic pathologist for medical cause-of-death determinations in relevant cases. The position is part-time and non-exempt, with a starting wage of $31.27–$33.89 per hour plus $3 per hour for on-call time. Investigators must commit to at least 72 on-call hours per month and be able to respond to a scene within one hour of dispatch. Work may involve evenings, mornings, weekends, and holidays, with emphasis on weekends. The role conducts initial scene investigations and follow-up, including documentation, interviews, external examinations, evidence preservation, identification, next-of-kin notification, and coordination of transport and records. The investigator may testify in civil and criminal court. The position exercises no supervision.

Requirements

Associate degree in Medical or Criminal Justice, a related field, or related experience.
Valid Wisconsin driver’s license.
Successfully pass a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
Commit to a minimum of 72 on-call hours per month.
Have access to personal transportation or another reliable means of city and rural travel on a 24-hour basis.
Be able to respond to a scene within one hour of dispatch.
Knowledge of statutory duties affecting the Medical Examiner’s Office and methods of conducting death investigations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective public relations and working relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Ability to exercise judgment and make independent decisions.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and interact effectively with coworkers and the general public.
Ability to perform the essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Physical ability to occasionally exert up to 100 pounds of force; regularly sit; frequently stand, speak or hear, use hands for handling and repetitive motions; and occasionally walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and reach.
Visual abilities including close and distance vision, adjustment of focus, depth and color perception, night vision, and peripheral vision.

Nice To Haves

Emergency Medical Technician–Paramedic experience with 2,000 hours of documented field work experience.
Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Knowledge of supervisory techniques.
A combination of education, training, and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Responsibilities

Respond to dispatched scenes, pronounce death, and determine the time and circumstances of death.
Determine the manner of death and make an initial assessment of cause and manner based on the investigation.
Evaluate and document scenes through photographs and written investigative reports.
Consult with the Medical Examiner or Lead Investigator and keep them informed as the investigation develops.
Record and retain statements from first responders, witnesses, healthcare providers, and family members as needed.
Perform external examinations of deceased individuals.
Preserve and document evidence and ensure the safety of those involved.
Establish decedent identification through scientific methods when necessary.
Locate and notify next of kin and communicate with them throughout the investigation.
Secure and prepare bodies and personal belongings for transport to the morgue, Medical Examiner’s Office, or local funeral home.
Intake information about deaths at medical facilities and determine whether Medical Examiner involvement is needed.
Collect medical records and history; speak with physicians to obtain medical history and confirm death certification.
Coordinate transport to and from scenes, the morgue, and the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Correspond with the Medical Examiner’s Office performing the autopsy.
Contact the appropriate donor network regarding potential organ donation.
Testify in civil and criminal court cases when necessary.