Medicolegal Death Investigator I - Tidewater District

Title: Medicolegal Death Investigator I Tidewater District

State Role Title: Law Enforcement Officer III

Hiring Range: $29.00/hr. $33.00/hr.

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location:CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINERTDWT

Agency Website: Type: General Public G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) Tidewater District is seeking a wage Medicolegal Death Investigator I. This is a wage position and averages 29 hours per week not to exceed 1500 hours in a year and is not eligible for benefits. This Medicolegal Death Investigator I position is responsible for investigating deaths that fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Duties include handling phone calls reporting deaths responding to death scenes data collection real time database direct entry preparing reports review of medical records and other documents handling evidence moving remains assisting with identification of remains and determining necessity for autopsy or further exam at district office. Inspecting bodies and obtaining specimens for examination is required. Will also require occasional travel throughout the district and state ability to respond to disaster events as requested ability to traverse rocky uphill or otherwise unstable geographic locations ability to lift/push/pull 100 lbs500lbs body weights. Involves possible exposure to hazardous substances/dangerous materials. Will also require occasional travel throughout the district and state ability to respond to disaster events as requested ability to traverse rocky uphill or otherwise unstable geographic locations ability to lift/push/pull 100 lbs500lbs body weights. Involves possible exposure to hazardous substances/dangerous materials. This position will work varying rotating shifts that include day evening overnights weekends and holidays to maintain 24hour coverage.

This is a restricted position and is grant funded. Additional duties related to the grant include the following: Coordinate the various functions and responsibilities of the DMV Toxicology grant. Serves as the point of contact for district office investigators and staff regarding this grant and its requirements. Grant has definitive deadlines and successful candidate must meet those deadlines week monthly and quarterly. Work with local medical examiners to ensure specimen collection and submission to the OCME district office in a timely manner. Performs necessary toxicology specimen tracking. Develops tracking tools and techniques to improve submission timeframes and receipts of toxicology final results.

1. Investigates Death Scenes
Works various shifts including days evenings nights weekends and holidays
to ensure the office maintains 24/7 coverage
Travels to death scenes in adherence with VDH Driver Safety Policy during shift
Under review of supervisor receives reports of deaths attends death scene
to assess circumstances surrounding the death conducts preliminary
examination of the dead body (for perimortem injuries postmortem changes
identifying marks/characteristics therapy marks etc.) confirms means of
identification photographs and records observations and interviews noncriminal witnesses
Collects and preserves fragile evidence and personal effects on the body
Under review of supervisor or senior medicolegal death investigator
determines necessity for autopsy or further examination at district office by
fixing probable cause and manner of death
2. Administration
Documents specific case (I.e. drowning fire childhood death family violence)
data (I.e. history dental records fingerprints etc.) and information during
investigation and directly enters data into VMEDS database
Collaboratively prepares documentations and reports
Assist with acquiring records to establish identity of decedents
Provides followup on an investigation as requested by supervisor or Assistant
Chief Medical Examiner
May attend court to observe supervisor or Assistant Chief Medical Examiner
provide testimony; testifies in court and gives depositions as needed to
provide evidence/testimony at pretrial and court hearings
3. Other Investigative Activities
Notifies local medical examiners and per diem Medicolegal Death
Investigators of the need for a scene investigation or other examination
procedure
Works with state and local law enforcement agencies to facilitate exchange of
pertinent information
Relays special concerns or requests (e.g. PERK kit exposures religious
requests special family requests) to district pathologists or local medical
examiners
4. Other Duties
Cooperates and coordinates with tissue/organ procurement agencies to
facilitate the wishes of families to donate tissues and organs in medical
examiner cases
Completes chain of custody forms when necessary
Provides backup to transport specimens to appropriate lab or pickup facility
when necessary
May be required to perform other duties; may include functions in support of
an emergency declaration

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of laws and standards of medicolegal death investigation anatomy physiology pharmacology and/or medical terminology in forensics.
Ability to conduct medicolegal death investigations form proper conclusions from death investigations write lengthy concise death investigation reports communicate effectively interact effectively with law enforcement social services and other constituencies in a diverse community assess medical records and work in team environment
Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Must have strong keyboarding and typing skills allowing for real time quick and accurate data entry of large amount of case information into a database.
Must be able to obtain the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Registry Certification if employment continues prior to the completion of two years of employment. Must maintain registry or board certification from the ABMDI after two years of employment.
Must be able to compose documents use a digital camera and print digital photographs.

Additional Considerations

Demonstrated knowledge in Forensic Science Health Science Criminal Justice or closely related field is preferred.
Experience in law enforcement or Medical Examiner/Coroner Office is preferred.
Prefer experience in death scene investigations identification of human remains and experience applying medicolegal death investigation technique and standards.
ABMDI certification is preferred.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH accepts only online applications. Faxed mailed or emailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Services Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check employment reference check and EVerify. Other financial credit driving background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture hair type and protective hairstyles such as braids locks and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and
pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: .

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card) you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to positionspecific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Sarah Chesko

Phone:

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). ServiceConnected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022 February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.