Taney County Coroner (Deputy Coroner / Death Investigator) Employment Opportunity

JOB POSTING A

Title: Deputy Coroner/Death Investigator
Summary of position: Provide operational assistance in the conduct of medical/legal
investigations and removing/transporting bodies for the Taney County Coroner.

Position Responsibilities:

A n sw e r tele p h on e to g a th e r inform ation to decide to assum e or decline death ju risd iction ; respond
via tele p h o n e o r scene response to d eath s w here ju risd ictio n is assum ed; if requested by the
C oroner, respond to inq uiries from m edia, in vestig ative agencies, public, fam ilies, etc.

In vestig ate death scene; d eterm in e if scene is secured and safe; d eterm ine disp osition o f body and
m ake visual ex am ination o f body if appropriate; record scene ob servatio ns, ensure p h oto-d o cu m en t
death scene and rem ains and interview w itnesses; con d u ct fo llo w -u p investigation fo r unresolved
issues such as id en tification , notification and inform ation regarding m anner and cause o f death.

Establish an d /o r initiate positive id entification p rocess using photo id entification, d ental/skeletal
rad iog rap h s or charting , fin g erp rin ts, m edical records, w itness accounts and internet searches;
d ocu m en t steps taken to confirm identity; identify cases th a t need fu rth e r sp ecialized tracing o f next
of kin, assets and estate.

T ra n s p o rt a n d /o r arrang e tran sp o rtatio n o f rem ains in varying d eg ree s o f trau m a, m utilation and
d ecom p osition to location set by the T a n e y C ou n ty Coroner; en sure rem ains are co rrectly identified
and not d am a ge d p rior to ex am inatio n by Pathologist; and if needed process rem ains including
w eighing, fin g e rp rin tin g and ta g g in g .(u su a lly done by the pathologist)

Locate and notify next o f kin, physician, or legal representative.

Locate and co lle ct lab sam p les and records, including health care, police, and othe r records.

Identify potential tissu e/o rg an donors; coo rd in ate p rocu rem en t w ith ap prop riate agencies.

Use co m p u te r to e n te r data and w rite tech n ica l and com p reh en siv e in vestig ative reports.

Identify, collect, d o cu m e n t and safeg uard the legal chain o f cu stod y o f ev id entiary m aterials
including m ed ica tio n s and d ece d e n t's personal property at death scenes; release to next o f kin or
ap p ro p riate in v estig ativ e agency.

C o m m u n icate death investig ation fin d in g s to pathologists.

C o m m u n icate and d isse m in a te ap prop riate inform atio n o f death investigation to m edia, fam ily, law
en fo rce m e n t and the public; present lectures and provide class interview s to educate the com m unity;
re prese n t the T a n e y C ou n ty C o ro n e r's O ffice with p resen tatio n s at con feren ce s, m eetings, or other
events.

Prepare d ece d e n t fo r view ing if appropriate; counsel grieving fam ily m em bers; facilita te disposition
o f rem ains, w hich m ay include burial, tra n sit and crem ation perm its.

In addition to the above core re sp o nsib ilities, incum b en ts m ay perform the follow ing duties:
Secure, inventory and m aintain all property th a t In ve stig ators bring into the TCC O ; d eterm ine legal
next o f kin and release p ro p erty to them or th e ir representative; coo rd in ate destruction o f all
w eap on s and evid en ce th a t next o f kin d oesn 't w ant; if no next o f kin, turn o v e r all property to Tan ey
C ou n ty Public A d m in istra to rs Office.

C o o rd in ate all asp e cts o f m edical records and case reports; d eterm ine if In ve stig ator's case reports
are co rre ct and com plete; d eterm ine w hich a g en cies have supplied original records and ensure they
are returned to the o rig inating agency; en sure se cu rity and co n fid en tiality o f all records in
co m p lian ce w ith H IPAA requ irem ents.

Perform oth e r duties as assign ed by the C oroner.
Training, Knowledge and Skills required:

GED or High School Education
First Responder, EMT or Paramedic or other medical training
Law Enforce training/Crime Scene investigation
Completion of Emergency Vehicle Training
Completion of Blood Borne Pathogens
Current in CPR/Health Care Provider Preferred
Completion of Fire Arms training
Completion of Psychological First Aid
Completion of ICS 100,200 and 700
Completion of Grievance training
Knowledge of legal and medical terminology, including the principles of anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, and
physics.
Qualify and attend annually or bi-annually firearms training as determined by the Coroner.
Knowledge of highway scene safety.
Knowledge of the principles of forensic entomology, anthropology, pathology, pharmacology and medication.
Knowledge of first responder health and safety requirements, including basic firearm safety.
Knowledge of crime scene investigation, processing, and evidence collection techniques.
Knowledge of policies, procedures, guidelines, protocol, and laws, including HIPAA requirements regarding deaths and
human remains.
Knowledge of the methods, techniques, equipment, and practices of handling deceased individuals.
Knowledge of chain-of-custody procedures.
Knowledge of organ donation and tissue procurement organizations and procedure.
Basic knowledge of forensic photography.
Knowledge of the techniques used in interviewing, investigating, and report writing.
Skill in working with human remains in varying degrees of decay and trauma.
Skill in locating and using reference and resource materials.
Investigative and analytical skills.
Crisis intervention and grief counseling skills.
Problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
Skill in working as a member of a team as well as independently and following directions.
Skill in communicating effectively, both orally and in written.
Basic computer, software applications, and office equipment operation skills.
Skill in working with people from varied socio-economic backgrounds and diverse cultures.
Skill in maintaining confidentiality with sensitive information.
Skill in using maps and following directions to specific locations.
Skill in explaining procedures and technical terminology to lay people.
Skill in remaining calm in high-stress, high-emotion and adverse situations.
Skill in remaining objective, nonjudgmental and sensitive to the situation and in conducting business in a professional,
supportive manner.
Must be able to attend annual Coroners training.
Knowledge of English grammar, usage, and spelling.
Individual must have leadership skills.

Hours: Must be able to work holidays, w eekends and nights as needed.
Approx. 1-20 hours per month

Salary: $10-$15 /hr of time worked (No on call pay)

Benefits: Not available with this position

Closing date: Posting will remain until position is filled

Taney County is a substance free, Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO E). Contact
Human Resources at (417)546-7285 for information. Applications can be obtained at the Human
Resources Department or online at www.taneycounty.org.