Medicolegal Death Investigator

Maricopa County • Phoenix, AZ

2d • $25 - $40

About The Position

Are you passionate about serving your community, analyzing medical information, and examining scenes? As a Medicolegal Death Investigator, you'll have the opportunity to use your medical and investigative knowledge to support the 4th largest Medical Examiner jurisdiction in the Nation! The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner is seeking a motivated, knowledgeable, and detail-oriented Medicolegal Death Investigator to join our team! You'll contribute as the “eyes and ears” for Medical Examiners on scene, and work to locate pertinent details and medical records relating to reported deaths in Maricopa County, and assist in the collection of evidence. Join a team dedicated to providing reliable and trustworthy death investigations in our community! The Office of the Medical Examiner is a county agency charged under Arizona law to perform medical investigations of certain types of deaths. The goal of these investigations is to determine the medical cause and manner of death to help improve public health and safety. We are looking for individuals to join our collaborative team to help the people of Maricopa County.

Requirements

• One year of experience as a full-time Medical Examiner Investigator or Deputy Coroner in a Coroner or Medical Examiner's facility; OR Two years of experience as a vocational medical specialist, such as a corpsman/military medic, emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, or as a forensic investigative specialist, such as a crime scene technician or investigator
• High school diploma or GED
• Experience may be substituted with an Associate’s degree or completion of 60 semester units from an accredited college or university in a Natural Science, Life Science, Forensic Science, Nursing, or Criminology field may substitute for the minimum requirements on a year-for-year basis. Coursework must have included 15 semester units in medical terminology, anatomy, biology, chemistry, investigations, forensics, or physiology
• Successful candidates must currently possess, or have the ability to obtain, a valid Arizona driver's license by the time of hire
• Certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigations (ABMDI) or must obtain a certification within eighteen months from the employment/hire date
• Sufficient strength and physical and emotional stability to work under adverse conditions.
• Must work with decedents in a decomposed state and understand and perform the complex task of removing decedents from diverse and difficult death scenes.
• Must be able to lift and carry 100 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a Natural Science, Forensic Science, Criminology, or related field
• Three or more years of experience as a vocational medical specialist, such as corpsman/military medic, emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, or as a forensic investigative specialist, such as crime scene technician or investigator
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience in forensic medicolegal investigation
• Experience working or volunteering in a Medical Examiner or Coroner's Office
• Certification in good standing as a Diplomat or Fellow of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators

Responsibilities

• Receive notification of deaths from agencies and outside parties and determine if the case is within the Office of the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction
• Direct the recovery, transportation, and processing of bodies and related evidence
• Collect on-site scene information and evidence to include drawing of bodily fluids and specimen, taking pictures, securing physical evidence on the body or within proximity of the body, and noting other physical evidence or circumstances relevant to the death
• Respond to various scenes of reported deaths, including traffic fatalities, industrial, SIDS and infant-related, overdoses, undetermined, suspicious, water-related, heat, and environmental exposure
• Conduct doll reenactments on cases of infant deaths when needed to assist the Medical Examiners in determining cause and manner of death
• Investigate the physical and medical aspects of natural deaths by telephone when appropriate
• Conduct interviews eliciting pertinent past and present history from persons associated with the decedent
• Obtain and review medical histories and records from private physicians or health care agencies
• Prepare detailed written reports of the investigation
• Record comments in the Database Application for Vital Events (DAVE) regarding death certificates being reviewed
• Order X-rays, toxicological studies, and follow-up reports, and gather other pertinent evidence prior to autopsy.
• Communicate and consult with law enforcement personnel, funeral homes, and other agencies to expedite the disposition of the case
• Coordinate with organ donor agencies to facilitate requests for organ and tissue donations
• Attend training programs to maintain high standards and implement new methods of investigation
• Give sworn testimony, when necessary, in a deposition or before a court or other legal tribunal

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center, Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 12% monthly contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED