Job Description Summary

Department - Forensic Science Center

Job Description

Job Type: Classified

Job Classification: 5612 - Medicolegal Death Investigator

Salary Grade: 10

Pay Range

Hiring Range: $25.14 - $30.16 Per Hour 

Pay Range: $25.14 - $35.18 Per Hour 

Range Explanation:

• Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

• Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.

The Medicolegal Death Investigator investigates circumstances surrounding unattended or unnatural deaths, assists Forensic Pathologists, law enforcement personnel, Medicolegal Death Investigation Supervisors, other Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner staff, and funeral homes in the disposition of cases. This classification is distinguished from the Criminal Investigator and law enforcement classifications which conduct legal investigations of criminal, civil and/or juvenile matters and assist attorneys in the preparation of cases for trial.

Essential Functions:  

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.

• Conducts death scene investigations including evidence collection, preservation, scene photography, and related pathological studies;

• Determines legal jurisdiction, investigates circumstances of death, medical history, and identifies next-of-kin;

• Coordinates findings with law enforcement, courts, and other agencies, and may testify in legal proceedings;

• Assists Forensic Pathologists during postmortem examinations, taking notes, photographs, and handling specimens;

• Maintains chain-of-custody and secures evidentiary materials for court presentation or law enforcement release;

• Locates and interviews witnesses, medical personnel, and relatives of deceased individuals;

• Conducts body and clothing inspections, documents personal property, and secures property for release to proper parties;

• Confirms identity of deceased using fingerprints and other methods, and prepares remains for viewing or formal identification;

• Prepares identification bands, paperwork, and logs information into the Medical Examiner’s database;

• Coordinates release of remains to funeral homes, public fiduciary offices, and consular authorities when applicable;

• Acts as liaison for organ and tissue donations with medical institutions and decedent’s next-of-kin;

• Reviews death certificates and toxicology or anthropological reports for accuracy and authorized release;

• Removes deceased from scenes and transports remains, medical specimens, and hazardous materials as needed;

• Performs servicing and maintenance of assigned vehicles and forensic equipment;

• Maintains written investigative reports, evidence records, and duty logs, and may oversee activities of other investigators.

Minimum Qualifications:  

Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice/law enforcement, pathology, forensics, social work, public health, biology, microbiology, chemistry, anthropology, physician’s assistant, nursing, pre-med, mortuary science or a closely related field as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment

(Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.)

OR:

One year of experience as a Forensic Technician I, Forensic Autopsy Technician Law Enforcement Officer, EMT, Investigator or related position as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment. 

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application. 
 

 Selection Procedure: 
Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.      

 

Supplemental Information: 

Licenses and Certificates: Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.   

Special Notice Items: The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. Department of Labor Regulation CFR Part 1910.1030 requires notification that this category may have a high risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens.  In accordance with OSHA and Pima County guidelines, safety training, equipment, Hepatitis B and TB Screening will be provided.  All positions require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, communication systems, and evidentiary materials. Pre-/Post-appointment drug testing may be required of all positions.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: All employees in this classification must be able to lift and move weights up to 100 pounds unassisted for brief periods and for short distances. Employees must be able to traverse rough, unimproved terrain on foot, in extremes of weather (e.g., heat, cold, etc.).  Normal color vision is required, due to need to examine and classify evidentiary materials and to process and interpret photographic and electronic images. Additional physical and sensory requirements will be determined by position.

Working Conditions: All positions require the ability to work in the presence of noxious odors and offensive sights involving human remains.

All positions are required to work rotating shifts which include days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, and to work an assigned post that can be rotated/reassigned at management’s discretion. Additional working conditions will be determined by position.

EEO Information: Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.