Medicolegal (Medical) Death Investigator I, II, or III

Johnson County Kansas•Olathe, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Johnson County Government is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of a Medicolegal (Medical) Death Investigator I, II, or III. The level placement and pay will be based upon experience and background. This role is crucial for investigating sudden and unexpected deaths within the community, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of investigations while adhering to local, state, and federal laws. The position involves responding to death scenes, conducting examinations, preparing comprehensive reports, and acting as a liaison to bereaved families and various authorities.

Requirements

Death Investigator I: Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Biological Science, Forensic Science, Natural science, Anthropology, Nursing, or any other medically relevant field.
Death Investigator I: Two (2) years of full-time experience as a medical investigator, deputy coroner, law enforcement officer, mortician, emergency medical technician, or relevant field.
Death Investigator II: Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Biological Science, Forensic Science, Natural science, Anthropology, Nursing, or any other medically relevant field is required.
Death Investigator II: Two (2) years of full-time experience as a medical investigator is required.
Death Investigator II: A certification with the American Board of Medicolegal Investigators (ABMDI).
Death Investigator II: A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record is also required.
Death Investigator III: Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Biological Science, Forensic Science, Natural science, Anthropology, Nursing, or any other medically relevant field, and BASIC Cerification with the American Board of Medicolegal Investigators (ABMDI) Registry Certification are required.
Death Investigator III: Four (4) years of full-time experience as a medical death investigator is also required.
Knowledge and skills in digital photography.
Ability to deal with distraught, upset, and violent family members, friends, and witnesses.
Ability to operate computer equipment and use software programs to complete required paperwork, reports, and email correspondence.
Knowledge of applicable laws, statutes, and chain of custody requirements.
Knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy, investigation techniques, and methods, particularly as they relate to a death investigation.
Knowledge of prescription medications and their uses.

Nice To Haves

Death Investigator I: BASIC Certification with the American Board of Medicolegal Investigators (ABMDI) is preferred.
Death Investigator II: Master's degree in Criminal Justice, Biological Science, Forensic Science, Natural science, Anthropology, Nursing, or any other medically relevant field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Respond promptly to various death scenes and act as the primary official in charge of the body, personal effects, and evidence.
Take photographs and interview witnesses to obtain statements reflecting the circumstances of death.
Perform external examinations of the deceased on scene.
Use critical thinking to ask unique questions of each respective case.
Independently identify and determine jurisdiction of a case, with consultation of the on-call pathologist as needed.
Ensure the proper handling of the body in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Conduct or assist with the intake, maintenance, and disposition of biohazardous materials/waste, property, evidence, toxicology, medication, bodies, and/or specimens.
Operate county response vehicles and equipment.
Investigate all deaths which are under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner as dictated by K.S.A. 22a-231.
Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of investigations, as well as compliance with local, state, and federal laws governing the same.
Obtain medical records in deaths being investigated as needed.
Apply professional knowledge and accepted practices in performing investigations.
Investigate deaths involving a communicable disease and complete testing of suspected deaths related to communicable diseases.
Report communicable disease deaths to the local Department of Health and Environment.
Prepare a comprehensive report detailing necessary case demographics and a summary of the scene and circumstances surrounding any death occurring under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner.
Identify and complete comprehensive searches for next-of-kin and organize notification of the next-of-kin based on state statutes.
Report all work-related deaths to OSHA.
Identify and report cases eligible for tissue and/or organ donation and refer the cases to the local organ procurement organization (Midwest Transplant Network).
Order required identification records at the direction of the Medical Examiner, Chief Medical Investigator, or his/her designees.
Independently arrange transportation services for decedents where jurisdiction is assumed and examination is requested or required.
Provide information to the Medical Examiner to aid in the ruling of cause, manner, as well as information regarding contributing factors to the death.
Communicate with the Chief Medical Investigator and the Chief Medical Examiner regarding complicated death investigations.
Conduct doll reenactments on cases of infant deaths where such reenactments are needed to determine cause and/or manner of death.
Present case findings to all allied authorities such as the police and the District Attorney upon request.
Testify in civil and criminal court including preparation and conferences.
Maintain the integrity and professionalism of the office.
Verify, sign, and forward appropriate forms to the proper officials.
Maintain records for all deaths, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
Ensure proper chain of evidence.
Review all incomplete and/or pending cases for accuracy and completeness as required.
Release evidence to the appropriate investigating law enforcement agency.
Represent the office at meetings or on committees with other offices, departments, or agencies.
Speak directly with the public.
Coordinate dissemination of information and findings of investigations to family, friends, law enforcement agencies, and the public in accordance with Medical Examiner Office (MEO) policies.
Act as a liaison to the bereaved: answer questions, advise, make referrals, provide support, etc.
Coordinate with funeral homes for disposition of remains and associated property in accordance to MEO policies.
Join the regional mortuary operational response group to assist with mass disaster preparedness and response.
Coordinate with the investigating law enforcement agency for the processing of homicides and/or suspicious deaths.
Create learning point presentations based on a variety of medical conditions and how the condition(s) relate to death investigation, presenting them to the investigations unit.
Work irregular shifts, including weekends, nights, evenings, holidays, and on-call as needed with the possibility for overtime on short notice.
Work during adverse weather conditions, with excessive heat or below freezing temperatures in stormy conditions while working outside or driving to the location of death.
Work in potentially mass disaster-like situations in hazardous conditions.
Attend scenes where there are potential chemical, biological, physical hazards including, but not limited to, fentanyl and other drug substances, downed power lines, bodies of water, tear gas, hoarding, insects, rodents, contagious diseases, bloodborne pathogens, mold, asbestos, confined spaces, heights, and dilapidated structures.
Attend scenes containing varying degrees of human and/or non-human decomposition.
Determine what cases need to be reported out to external agencies (Carbon monoxide, OSHA, VAERS, Hypo- and Hyperthermia, Infant Loss, etc.) and extensively investigate cases with minimal direction (for Investigator II and III).
Has a broad range of medical knowledge and has an effective understanding of how various medical diagnoses play a role in the cause and manner of death (for Investigator II and III).
Assist in development and implementation of training of Medicolegal Death Investigator I staff and provides ongoing mentoring as needed (for Investigator II and III).
Create presentations to aid in specialized training of the investigative staff (for Investigator II and III).
Lead the daily shift meeting, providing updates and feedback to staff (for Investigator II and III).
Provide training and education to various outside agencies on work-related procedures and issues through the use of current resources and information (for Investigator II and III).
Attend and present at conferences and/or job fairs (for Investigator II and III).
Monitor investigative supplies and is in charge of the vehicle fleet (for Investigator II and III).
Establish jurisdiction and conduct an independent and thorough investigation of all deaths which are under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner including: sudden, unexplained, unusual or suspicious deaths; work-related deaths; deaths of individuals less than 18 years of age; in-custody deaths; deaths with a cause noted to be of public interest; homicides, suicides, accidental, and undetermined manners of death; deaths when the decedent was in apparent health; deaths when the decedent was not regularly attended by a licensed physician; or when a physician refuses to sign the death certificate (for Investigator III).
Ensure that family members are aware of the support services available to them (for Investigator III).
Coordinate release of evidence to investigating agencies (for Investigator III).
Act as a mentor within the division (for Investigator III).
Ensure compliance with all applicable health and safety standards and good laboratory practices (for Investigator III).
Provide guidance in constant improvement activities related to medicolegal death investigations (for Investigator III).
Assist in training new investigator personnel (for Investigator III).
Assist the Chief Medical Investigator and the Deputy Chief Investigator in the hiring, training, and education of other medicolegal death investigators (for Investigator III).
Provide backup and on-call activities, as needed (for Investigator III).
Create specialized training materials for other medicolegal death investigators (for Investigator III).
Assist in the education of outside agencies (for Investigator III).
Lead the daily shift meeting and provide feedback to staff (for Investigator III).
Attend and present at conferences and/or job fairs (for Investigator III).
Monitor investigative supplies and the fleet (for Investigator III).