Forensic Investigator

Duties and Requirements Click to read more

Duties

• Responds to death scenes;
• Investigates the cause and manner of death in cases of unattended natural death, accident, suicide, or homicide;
• Conducts interviews with family members, law enforcement personnel, medical professionals and others regarding circumstances of death;
• Determines what scenes to investigate and what evidence to examine and/or collect;
• Examines and photographs crime scenes;
• Conducts an external examination of body and document findings;
• Collects, submits, retrieves, and documents pathological, toxicological/histological specimens;
• Removes deceased body from the death scene and transports to designated location;
• Documents transfer of body and property;
• Obtains or coordinates positive identification of bodies through visual personal identification affidavit, x-ray, dental records, descriptive evidence, and fingerprint records;
• Files paperwork internally and to the Arizona Office of Vital Records, to include certified death certificates;
• Prepares and maintains records and reports, including unidentified decedent data;
• Collects, inventories, and preserves all evidentiary materials and personal effects of the deceased;
• Maintains logs for cremation death certificates and removals;
• May assist the Pathologist or Medical Examiner with the evaluation and postmortem examination;
• Maintains sanitary conditions of the facility, equipment and instruments and properly disposes biological and biohazardous materials;
• Performs routine clerical duties, such as, filing, answering phones and working with a variety of office and technical equipment;
• Comply with all HIPAA regulations and related policies and regulations;
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Experience and Education

• Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, forensic science, medicine/health care, or related field -AND- one (1) year of investigative experience;
• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• May be required to successfully complete a background check, polygraph examination, and drug test prior to appointment;
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Knowledge of:

• Yuma County and Sheriff's Office Policies and Procedures;
• Federal and state laws pertaining to forensic operations/activities;
• Human anatomy and medical terminology, forensic investigative methods and laws in criminology;
• Law enforcement principles, practices, methods, techniques and equipment;
• Practices and procedures of evidence collection, including specimen and tissue retrieval;
• Geography, roads, and streets of Yuma County.

Skills in:

• Applying forensic principles, and determining cause and manner of death;
• Collecting, processing, and preserving death scene evidence;
• Packaging and organizing property and evidence in an orderly fashion for storage and retrieval;
• Use of autopsy/forensic, safety, and personal protective equipment;
• Safety handling and disposal of biological and biohazardous materials;
• Preparing complete and accurate reports and records;
• Dealing impartially with people of different social economic, and ethnic backgrounds;
• Operating computerized technology and job-related software applications.

Ability to:

• Read, learn, understand, apply and follow rules, regulations, instructions and forensic practices and procedures;
• Exercise initiative and independent judgment in selecting proper field forensic techniques;
• Obtain and analyze information/factors regarding a death and to determine cause/manner of death;
• Plan, organize and prioritize multiple investigations;
• Follow written and verbal instructions;
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with supervisors, employees, other agencies, and the public, including law enforcement and physicians;
• Perform the essential functions of the job specifications with or without reasonable accommodation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work is performed in general office environment, in the field at death scenes, and in a laboratory/morgue setting;
• Work a variety of scheduled shifts, irregular hours, and/or on-call status, as necessary;
• May work non-standard hours, to include shift work, holidays, and weekends;
• Exposure to dirt, dust, pollen, inclement weather, temperature extremes, body fluids, communicable diseases;
• Hazardous materials/chemical, various evidence, and unpleasant odors;
• Exposure to remote and isolate areas when examining a scene;
• Climb rocks and other uneven terrains to access a scene;
• Walk, stand and sit for long period of time;
• Crawl, kneel, bend, stoop, twist, crouch, and reach to gather evidence during an investigation;
• Move, lift, carry, drag, push and/or pull objects weighing up to 100 pounds;
• Prolong periods of attention to detail information;
• Visual and muscular dexterity to operate: a motor vehicle, computer equipment, and two-way radio;
• Utilize two-way radio to hear and respond to: radio communications, voice instructions, and/or commands;
• Operate a motor vehicle and travel to/from various locations.

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