Medicolegal Death Investigator

General Summary

Ada County is a great place to work! We have more than 2000 employees dedicated to enhancing our community’s quality of life. Our Coroner's team is growing, and this is an excellent opportunity to be a part of taking this team to the next level.

We offer a competitive Total Rewards package that increases your base salary by approximately 40%, including:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation and sick leave starting on day one
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Participation in one of the nation’s best state retirement systems, with 11.96% employer contribution
• 457(b) deferred compensation plan with up to 3% county match, plus a 401(k)
• Paid parental leave, life insurance, and robust wellness programs
• Ongoing training opportunities and career pathing

This generous Ada County Total Rewards package increases the base salary by approximately 40 percent.

The Ada County Coroner’s Office will aim to provide the highest standard in medicolegal death investigation, forensic analysis, pathology services, and administration. The Office will continue to seek new ways to increase quality of work while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Learn more about Ada County Coroner's Office by visiting their website:
Coroner's Office.

Required:
You must include an updated resume and cover letter with your application.

The Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) investigates and aids in determination of cause and manner of death according to state statute; particularly unexpected and unexplained death or those without a physician in attendance. The investigator identifies forensic evidence to include collection and preservation. The MDI determines the identity of the deceased, identifies legal next of kin, and notifies them of the death.

Investigators further assist families in resolving concerns relating to the death. A complete death investigation can include on-scene investigation, interviews, evidence collection and preservation, and various methods of documenting the case. Investigators are often called to testify in criminal and civil court. MDI also protects the county’s interest in cases of no next of kin or abandoned decedents, to include sealing homes, vehicles and collecting property.

These duties are performed under the direct supervision of the Investigative Supervisor.

The Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) performs work that is varied and complex. As the Investigator becomes more proficient in their job, new duties and responsibilities are assigned. Multiple levels of this position exist and are based on training, direct experience, education, level of competency and complexity of the work performed. Unless an individual has prior MDI experience, they will start in the entry level, advancing through evaluations and certification.

All levels must be performed to promote the highest standards of practice.

• Focus is primarily on training and working towards ABMDI certification. Training will include learning the duties of the MDI as follows:
• Responds to calls relating to "sudden deaths" which refers to a death in which a physician has not been in attendance or a death under questionable circumstance;
• Confers with police, doctors, hospital staff, families of the deceased, insurance investigators, lawyers, funeral homes, Idaho Board of Pharmacy, and media;
• Examines the place of death for evidence of the cause of death and the identity of deceased;
• Gathers, preserves, and stores evidence while maintaining the integrity of the evidence through proper collection, handling, security, and chain of custody;
• Photographs and examines decedents; taking note of all defects, the scene, evidence and property;
• Identifies decedent;
• Determines preliminary cause and manner of death;
• Transports decedent;
• Admits decedents into morgue custody and assures proper chain of custody procedures are followed;
• Transport specimens to and from hospital lab;
• Coordinates donation cases;
• Attends or assists in the autopsies and supplies pathologists with information relating to the death scene;
• Conducts scene investigations in cases involving non-hospital…