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NOTE: This temporary position will not exceed 29 hours per week.

SUMMARY: Under general supervision receives reports of death, visits death scenes, conducts investigations regarding circumstances of death, examines decedents, prepares official investigative reports; releases cause and manner of death information to the public, official agencies, and media according to office polices, trains newly hired Medical Investigators, and performs other duties as required.

The employee is required to be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies, as directed by the supervisor.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: 

This employee reports to the Chief Medical Examiner.

Work product reviewed by Chief Medical Examiner, Deputy Medical Examiner and Senior Death Investigator.

Works closely with law enforcement agencies, funeral homes, hospitals and physicians, and the general public.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Answers calls from the death notification phone line, evaluates the jurisdictional authority of this office regarding those calls, and makes a preliminary determination based on the Texas Medical Examiner Act as to the disposition of the case which is reviewed by the Medical Examiner.

Conducts death scene investigations, when necessary, which includes visiting the death scene, drawing diagrams, taking quality photographs, interviewing witnesses, family members, law enforcement agents, or other pertinent individuals to obtain information about circumstances surrounding the death; examines decedent for wounds or other evidence pertinent to death.

Prepares written investigative reports on investigative findings and observations.

Contacts physicians, medical facilities, and investigative agencies to obtain medical information pertinent to death investigation.

Coordinates identification measures in all cases, particularly in cases of unidentified decedents.

Contacts next of kin regarding death notification and the disposition of the decedent’s remains.

Receives calls from agencies (including news media) and releases appropriate information regarding cases.

Serves as a liaison with law enforcement agencies, coordinating the exchange of information regarding cases.

Provides general 24 hours a day security and supervision of the medical examiner’s building.

Monitors alarm systems.

Consults with Medical Examiners regarding necessary follow-up information required for case investigation.

May assist in the transfer and return of physical evidence to law enforcement agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County’s insurance carrier.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in fields to include Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Biomedical Science, or closely related field; or, Associate’s degree in fields to include Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Biomedical Science, or closely related field with additional verifiable work experience (1-3 years); or, Certification as an RN, EMT-Paramedic, or equivalent medical certification; with additional verifiable work experience (1-3 years).

Must know the Texas State Medical Examiner Act and related statutes; knowledge of crime scene investigation and procedures; knowledge of the criminal justice system; knowledge of human anatomy, health care systems, basic pathophysiology, and medical terminology.

Skill in identification and assessment of wounds; photography; fingerprinting and other identification techniques; good written and oral communication skills required; excellent computer skills, including word processing required.

The ability to maintain security of the work area, evidence, and information is required. Must be able to respond to inquiries from the public and official agencies in a pleasant, effective and professional manner. Ability to work well with other agencies to facilitate effective investigation and appropriate services for decedents and their families.

Must maintain certification and/or licensure as a Registered Nurse, Paramedic, or equivalent medical certification, if applicable.

Must achieve registration by the American Board of Medical Death Investigators (ABMDI) within two (2) years.

Must have a valid Texas driver’s license, motor vehicle liability insurance, and personal injury insurance; or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business daily.

Must have available transportation during the entire workday.

Must secure and maintain a favorable background investigation including a pre-employment physical and a pre-employment drug screen test as per Human Resources policy.

Shift work to provide 24-hour coverage is required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:  Preferred - Completed Death Investigator Certification by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators or must be obtained within two years of date of hire. Valid Texas Driver’s License required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

Knowledge of:

Investigative techniques.

Anatomical and medical terminology.

Operation of digital camera.

Policies, practices, procedures, and terminology of assigned function.

Principles and procedures of record keeping.

Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.

Good skills in English composition and spelling, basic skills in arithmetic.

Article 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Safe practices in field investigations.

Skill in:

Investigating deaths and processing death scenes.

Working with law enforcement and other related parties.

Dealing with distraught, upset, or violent family members.

Writing, recording and compiling material for accurate reports.

Use and care of equipment.

Effective verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

Deal with death-related environment daily including potential health hazards and unpleasant sights and odors associated with autopsies.

Write concise findings related to death investigations.

Ability to read and interpret certain kinds of technical documents including hospital medical records and toxicology reports.

Work in morgue environment with daily contact with decedents, including those in a decomposed state.

Work independently.

Work on a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and produce timely and tangible results.

Exercise sound judgment and make sound decisions.

Perform in a stressful environment, while maintaining a professional manner.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, hospital personnel, funeral homes, departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, grieving family members, news media, and the general public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER INFORMATION: Constantly working in indoor conditions; occasionally works outdoors, changing locations, and environments at any time.

Work environment involves exposure to other hazardous/bio-hazardous materials, unfavorable fumes, vapors or odors and potentially infectious material/diseases.

Frequently moves items weighing up to 20 pounds; occasionally moves items 200 pounds.

Occasionally moves about the office.

Frequently communicates with others; must be able to exchange accurate information.

Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

Positions self to perform essential functions.

Must be able to remain in a stationary position.

Employee travels to scene of death, including such diverse locations as beaches, dump sites, and ditches, furnishing his/her own transportation. While at location, employee may stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Employee sometimes uses sense of smell to determine what has happened at the site.

Employee may be required to travel by other means of arranged transportation such as by aircraft or watercraft.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

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