Deputy Coroner

Location:

Hamilton County is one of Indiana’s fastest growing, highest educated and wealthiest counties in the state and the Midwest. Two-thirds of the workforce lives and works in the county -- a percent that has remained constant since 2010.  Hamilton County is continually recognized in rankings ranging from “Best Cities to Relocate To” and “Best City to Raise a Family” to “Healthiest County in Indiana” and “Happiest Suburbs in the Nation”.  Come be a part of all Hamilton County has to offer as we work together to serve the citizens of Hamilton County.

Job Description:

Incumbent serves as Deputy Coroner for the Coroner, responsible for assisting in investigating and assisting in certifying cause and manner of death in any suspicious, unusual or unnatural human death.

High school diploma or GED and ability to successfully complete required training.

Must successfully complete the training and certification of the Indiana State Coroner’s training board for Medical Legal Death Investigator within the first year of appointment to the office as required by state statute.

Must maintain the certification of Medical Legal death investigator by attending annual training by the Indiana State training Board as required by state statute.

Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical application of state and local rules and regulations regarding duties and authority of coroners.

Working knowledge of and ability to make practical application of various related fields of science, such as pathology, forensics, anatomy, and criminal investigation.

Working knowledge of blood borne pathogens control, and ability to follow universal health precautions at all times to prevent infection of self and others.

Ability to properly secure death scenes, bodies, collected evidence, and personal property of decedent, in conjunction with police agencies.

Ability to properly operate a camera, and accurately complete required documents and reports.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with state and local law enforcement, other emergency personnel, mortuaries, news media, physicians, witnesses, decedents' next of kin, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.

Ability to periodically provide testimony in legal proceedings.

Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate/hostile persons.

Ability to comply with all employer/department personnel policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information/records according to state requirements.

Ability to work alone and with others in a team environment, and maintain appropriate, respectful interrelationships with co-workers.

Ability to adapt to changing work environments and irregular hours   Ability to regularly work extended, weekend and/or evening hours, and occasionally travel out of town, but not overnight.

Ability to serve on 24-hour call rotation, and appropriately respond from off-duty status, despite the stress of exposure to distraught persons and disturbing evidence, such as deaths involving violence.

Possession of a valid Indiana driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

As a result of the duties associated with this job, there is the potential of becoming exposed to blood borne pathogens and other potentially infectious diseases.  To safeguard employees and eliminate the liability placed on Hamilton County, employees working in this position shall begin the three shot Hepatitis B vaccination and subsequent training within 10 days of their initial job assignment per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(2)(i).  The initial and two subsequent vaccinations shall be administered by the Hamilton County Health Department and free of charge to the employee.  If the employee has previously received the three shot Hepatitis B vaccination, official documentation must be provided to the supervisor identifying the dates in which each shot was appropriately administered.  A Temporary Medical Declination may be made for a period of up to six months.  A Declination form must be completed, outlining the medical reasons for the temporary declination and forwarded to the Safety & Risk Manager.  Employees temporarily declining the vaccine are prohibited from performing any duties in which they may be exposed to a blood borne pathogen or other potentially infectious disease until they are able to begin/continue the series of vaccinations.  Failure to comply will result in termination of employment.

Performs duties of Coroner in his/her absence.

Investigates deaths reported to office according to applicable state and local rules, regulations and guidelines, including observing, photographing, and documenting scene of death, and examining, photographing, and documenting body at autopsies and exhumations.

Interviews witnesses and/or relatives of decedent and verifies medical history of decedent. Consults with various agencies as appropriate, including Sheriff, municipal police departments, fire departments, Indiana State Police, and emergency medical services.

Determines need for specimen draws or autopsies, and witnesses autopsies as needed.

Completes investigatory documents and reports as required, such as lab requests, Coroner's verdict, investigation reports, fatal accident and SIDS reports.  Maintains related case files.

Complete Provisional notification of death and burial transit permits.

Renders/certifies cause and manner of death and provides documentation to agencies and individuals as requested. Determines next of kin and provides personal notification of casualty as needed. Secures personal possessions of decedent and releases to appropriate individual.

Periodically provides information regarding investigations to news media, and makes depositions as required.

Attends and successfully completes State Commission certified death investigation class as required.

Serves on 24-hour call rotation.

Attends conferences (as required by state statute) and seminars to maintain current knowledge of laws and other trends in the field.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Incumbent performs a broad scope of duties involving non-routine decisions in determining unexplained human deaths. Incumbent's decisions regarding cause and manner of death are final and cannot be overruled. Work is performed according to legally defined procedures, and standard practices of the profession, and is reviewed for soundness of judgement, technical accuracy, and compliance with legal requirements and department policy.

Incumbent communicates frequently with state and local law enforcement personnel, other emergency personnel, mortuaries, news media, witnesses, decedents' next of kin, and the public, for purposes of exchanging information, coordinating investigations, and resolving problems.

Incumbent reports directly to Coroner.

Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment, in a vehicle, and at scenes of death, involving sitting and walking at will, bending, crouching/kneeling, working in confined areas, handling/grasping objects, and occasionally lifting/carrying objects weighing more than 100 pounds. Incumbent may be exposed to distraught individuals, disturbing evidence, inclement weather, and blood borne pathogens, for which universal health precautions must be followed at all times to prevent infection of self and others.

Incumbent serves on 24-hour call rotation. Incumbent regularly works extended, weekend and/or evening hours, and occasionally travels out of town, but not overnight.

The job description for the position of Deputy Coroner for the Coroner describes the duties and responsibilities for employment in this position.  I acknowledge that I have received this job description and understand that it is not a contract of employment.  I am responsible for reading this job description and complying with all job duties, requirements and responsibilities contained herein, and any subsequent revisions.