What are the responsibilities and job description for the Deputy Medical Examiner position at County of Adams?
Under the supervision of the Medical Examiner, investigates and reports on the cause and manner of deaths, including the gathering of physical evidence, interviewing, assisting in post-mortem examinations; determines if a case falls under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner's Office; and performs related work as required.
Thorough knowledge of County and department policies and procedures to include emergency and inclement weather policies; ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects; attention to detail and ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan and successfully respond to changing circumstances; knowledge of the statutory duties affecting the Medical Examiner’s Office, methods of conducting death investigations, and supervisory techniques; knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of pathological medicine; thorough knowledge of determining the cause of death, ability to train deputies, knowledge of billing third parties; ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals; ability to operate and use standard office equipment; knowledge and ability to use standard office and position-specific software; ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other departments and the general public.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, speaking or hearing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and lifting, frequently requires walking, climbing or balancing, reaching with hands and arms and pushing or pulling and occasionally requires sitting, using hands to finger, handle or feel and tasting or smelling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment, frequently requires exposure to wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus; work is generally in a quiet location (e.g. library, private offices).
The following duties are illustrative, and the person holding this position may be required to perform other duties of a similar nature or otherwise related to the position.
- Investigate death scenes to determine cause and manner of deaths in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes.
- Examines evidence at the scene to establish an initial assessment of the cause and manner of death as natural, suicide, homicidal, accidental, or undetermined.
- Assists in the identification of the decedent by examining the body and the scene of the death.
- Collects and preserves physical evidence in accordance with the established chain of custody procedures.
- Notifies the next of kin personally or in conjunction with law enforcement, judicial agencies, of pastoral services.
- Supervises the removal of the body from the scene, including transporting to the appropriate post-mortem facility.
- Conducts medical and social history data collection on cases from hospital personnel, health care personnel, families, friends, neighbors, and other sources.
- Testifies in civil and criminal cases on the results of investigations and other expert information
- Prepares and issues death certificates, disinterment permits, cremation permits, embalming permits, medical record requests, subpoenas, and other legally binding documents.
- Photograph, fingerprint, collect toxicology samples, gather DNA samples and other forensic evidence from the body.
- Establishes and maintains effective working and public relations with various local, county and state law enforcement agencies, federal officers, correctional officers, county departments and the public.
- Assists at autopsies and subsequent cleaning and restocking of supplies.
- Handle the administrative duties of the office in the absence of the Medical Examiner. These duties include, but are not limited to: Accounts payable, accounts receivable, attend PS&J Committee meetings as required; serve civil process upon the Sheriff; case management; monthly reports; personnel scheduling.
- Performs other duties as required.
- Requires a combination of training and experience equivalent to at least an Associate Degree in Police Science, OR
- Related field and two years experience either performing criminal or civil investigations, including writing investigative reports.
- Requires a medical background trained to at least the Emergency Medical Technician – Basic level or similar training and two years of medical field experience.
- Familiarity with exposure control plans and appropriate personal protective equipment including safe needle practices.
- Considerable knowledge of Wisconsin State Statute 979, concerning the investigation of deaths
- Considerable knowledge of Wisconsin State Statute 69, concerning the reporting and recording of deaths
- Considerable knowledge of causes and manners of death and their manifestations with regard to the body, the scene, medical social history, and forensics
- Considerable knowledge of investigative techniques, principles, and practices used in the investigation of deaths including the American Board of Medical Legal Death Investigators and the 1999 Death Investigation guidelines as published by the National Institutes of Justice
- Considerable knowledge of the morphological aspects of the causes of death with special attention to necropsy
- Working knowledge of medical terminology and medicine as it pertains to death and varying forms of trauma
- Working knowledge of human anatomy and physiology sufficient to gather blood and other bodily fluids as evidence
- Ability to effectively communicate with physicians and other licensed health care providers
- Ability to communicate with survivors of the decedent
- Ability to communicate investigative results in a court of law
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other public agencies and the general public
- Ability to interpret a death scene, identify items of evidence and assess the condition of the body
- Ability to take proper photographs of scene, body, and evidence for documentation
- Ability to physically remove a body from the scene and transport or supervise the transport of the body to a proper facility including, but not limited to the morgue, and ensuring the preservation of evidence.
- Ability to prepare and present accurate, objective, and thorough reports.
- Oral and written skills are essential
- Possession of a valid Wisconsin Driver's License
- Ability to drive County-owned vehicles
- Access to reliable personal motor vehicle transportation
- Must be available to work on-call shifts, as scheduled, including evenings, holidays, and weekends.
- Must maintain auto liability insurance.
- Must be bondable.
- Random drug testing required.
Must be available to work evenings, holidays, and weekends; and able to work on-call for twelve-hour shifts. Must maintain auto liability insurance and must be bondable. The position is paid $1.75 per hour for on-call during the week and $2.25 per hour during weekends and holidays.
This position requires frequent bending, lifting, twisting, stretching, squatting, sitting, standing, and walking. You must have excellent visual acuity and be able to hear normal conversations. Must be able to communicate orally in a clear and concise manner. Must have the good manual dexterity of hands and fingers and must be able to lift/carry/push/pull up to 30 pounds with a moving cart or device. Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is considered high for this position.
OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIESThis position requires frequent bending, lifting, twisting, stretching, squatting, sitting, standing, and walking. You must have excellent visual acuity and be able to hear normal conversations. Must be able to communicate orally in a clear and concise manner. Must have the good manual dexterity of hands and fingers and must be able to lift/carry/push/pull up to 30 pounds with a moving cart or device. Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is considered high for this position.
Thorough knowledge of County and department policies and procedures to include emergency and inclement weather policies; ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects; attention to detail and ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan and successfully respond to changing circumstances; knowledge of the statutory duties affecting the Medical Examiner’s Office, methods of conducting death investigations, and supervisory techniques; knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of pathological medicine; thorough knowledge of determining the cause of death, ability to train deputies, knowledge of billing third parties; ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals; ability to operate and use standard office equipment; knowledge and ability to use standard office and position-specific software; ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other departments and the general public.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, speaking or hearing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and lifting, frequently requires walking, climbing or balancing, reaching with hands and arms and pushing or pulling and occasionally requires sitting, using hands to finger, handle or feel and tasting or smelling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment, frequently requires exposure to wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus; work is generally in a quiet location (e.g. library, private offices).
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is considered high for this position.
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