Medical Examiner Investigator

Livingston County was named a 2025 Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press, based solely on employee feedback. With over 700 employees serving within 18 departments, 6 elected offices, and 3 Courts, Livingston County's top priority is providing effective and efficient services that improve the quality of life for all residents.

About the role

Performs forensic investigations through the utilization of accepted procedures, documents death scenes, and assists in the collection of evidence in support of the Medical Examiner's office. Performs field interviews at death scenes and conducts research both in the office and in the field. Transports bodies when necessary to the morgue. This is an on-call position that is paid at an hourly rate when called in. Must be able to be onsite within 1 hour of call. Requires 15-20 on-call shifts per month, including nights and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Receives reported notices of death through various means including but not limited to central dispatch, electronic activation, EMS, and local law enforcement.
• Interviews for information surrounding the terminal event including physical descriptions of decedents and their personal habits.
• Develops a plan for obtaining additional information and appropriate actions to be taken.
• Reviews cases with the Medical Examiner.
• Organizes a case record for the deceased in cases processed by the Medical Examiner's Office, including medical and family history, reports of circumstances, and evidence surrounding the death. Follows up on cases until a final disposition is reached and prepares a summary report.
• Prepares divisional forms as required by the situation; contacts police when required by the circumstances of the death.
• Contacts the funeral home where the body is to be released, providing the case number, pronounced time of death, and name and phone number of the doctor who is to sign the death certificate.
• Researches next of kin, family, or friends to identify the decedent; develops physical description of the decedent by viewing the body; researches missing persons reports comparing physical descriptions.
• Assists with processing work either in the field or at the office, assembling material evidence such as drugs, medicines, poisons, X-rays of the ballistic location in the decedent, fingerprints, weapons, etc.
• Remains on call for dispatch to death scenes to perform necessary tasks.
• Operates and utilizes various office equipment and machines including telephone, computer, printer, copier, fax machine, and vehicles.
• Assists in the performance of autopsies, completing forensic procedures including fingerprinting, maintaining records, releasing human bodies and their personal effects, enforcing infection control procedures, etc.

Requirements

• Valid Michigan Driver's License.
• Knowledge of documentation principles, Microsoft Office products, investigative principles, forensic principles and practices, scene safety and scene management, equipment related to medical examiner programs, applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations, research principles, and continuous quality improvement principles.

Physical Requirements

• Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and seeing.
• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, and potentially lethal diseases and animals.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials found in a home or general office environment.
• Use of household cleaning products and disinfectants may be required.

Benefits

• Optional Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation plan.
• Up to $300 annual Wellness reimbursement and $100 incentive for completing your annual physical and Health Assessment.
• Employee Assistance Program.

Pay

This is a non-union, part-time position with a starting pay of $34.99/hr. Eligible for step pay increases within the Non-Union Grade 9 Wage Scale, with a top end of $44.32/hr.