On Call - Deputy Medical Examiner - Sheboygan County

Purpose and Summary

A career with Sheboygan County is more than just a job, it is an opportunity to serve a diverse and expanding community in meaningful ways. We challenge ourselves to be a different kind of government because we care deeply about our community and each other. Committed to our shared values, we provide excellent public service, seeking always to improve ourselves and our organization.

This position is an appointed employee by the medical examiner and shall perform the duties outlined in

• 59.34 Wis. Stats.; Chapters 69 and 979, Wis. Stats.; statutes and administrative rules, as applicable, and as amended from time to time.
  
  

Essential Duties

• Completes state and federal reporting forms, questionnaires and reports incidental to duties of the office.
• Establishes and maintains effective working and public relations with various local and state law enforcement agencies, federal officers, County departments, medical personnel, funeral service professionals, families, and the public.
• Receives reports of deaths occurring with Sheboygan County and responds as appropriate.
• Identifies deceased individuals, performs death notification to next of kin personally or in conjunction with other law enforcement and judicial agencies. May provide referrals to available services.
• Assumes responsibilities of the office in the absence of the Medical Examiner and Chief Deputy.
• Investigates deaths in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes, including evaluating death scenes, examining and preserving evidence, investigating the circumstances of death by obtaining personal data and medical history through records and interviews; and establishes initial assessment of cause and manner of death as natural, suicide, accidental, homicidal, or undetermined.
• Externally examines body for trauma or physical evidence pertaining to death. Determines the need for autopsy and collection of biological specimens or additional testing in furtherance of determining manner and cause of death. May or assign designee to attend autopsies involving criminal matters.
• If necessary to determine manner and cause of death, obtains personal data, social, medical and mental health history of the deceased through release of documents, records and interviewing parties known to the decedent or involved in the incident. May request court to issue subpoena to obtain records in furtherance of determining cause or manner of death.
• Issues cremation permits after viewing deceased and determining that no further death investigation is necessary.
• Upon the request of the Court or District Attorney, may be required to testify to matters pertinent to death investigations or in case there is a change in evidence.
• Consistent with policies and procedures of the Office of Medical Examiner, communicates with funeral homes regarding disposition of the body (cremation authorizations, permission to embalm, disinterment permits and death certificates).
• Collects, maintains, and disposes evidence; obtains specimens; maintains and sorts records and documents incidental to the office.
• Maintains Disaster Morgue Plan and collaborates on and implements disaster planning.
• Performs other duties and tasks as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• A minimum of two years of post-high school education in nursing, medical technology, chemistry, biology, medicine, pre-med, paramedic, EMT, forensic science, criminal justice or closely related field and two years of medicolegal investigative experience.
• A combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
• Must be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, unless proper replacement is available and reported to dispatch/paging agency.
• Valid Wisconsin driver’s license and access to personal transportation, or other reliable means of city and rural travel on a 24 hour basis.
• Knowledge of the statutory duties affecting the Medical Examiner’s Office, methods of conducting death investigations, and supervisory techniques.
• Complete SIVRS data entry in timely manner following death investigation.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective public relations and working relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Ability to exercise judgment and make independent decisions to oversee the work of staff, communicate effectively orally and in writing and interact effectively with co-workers and the general public.
• Able to fulfill the physical demands of the job, sensory demands (seeing and hearing), cognitive demands (concentration, conceptualization, memorization). Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
  
  

This position is not eligible for benefits.