Medicolegal Death Investigator

Medicolegal Death Investigator

This position will remain open until filled. The first application review will be on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. We reserve the right to close this recruitment at any time on or after that date.

The Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office seeks a dedicated and skilled Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI). In this role, you will conduct complex death investigations, following Oregon law and national standards, working with law enforcement, medical professionals, and the legal community. The position suits people who pay strong attention to detail, remain calm under pressure, communicate clearly, and are committed to public service. The Medical Examiner's Office is there for the community when things are at their most difficult. We provide answers for families, assist the justice system, and make sure that all deaths that are violent, suspicious, or unexplained are fully investigated.

As a Medicolegal Death Investigator, you will conduct investigations into deaths following ORS Chapter 146 and in accordance with national standards. Your duties include assessing the death scene, examining the decedent, recording findings, preserving evidence, securing personal belongings, and maintaining custody of the decedent. You will interview witnesses, family members, and other professionals, and produce clear, accurate investigative reports with scene observations and medical information. You will give evidence in criminal and civil proceedings.

MDIs use their knowledge of medicolegal investigation techniques, relevant state statutes, medical terminology, and legal evidence standards. The role requires good judgment, effective prioritization, and clear communication with families, law enforcement, medical personnel, and county staff. You will respond to queries, cooperate with other agencies, and support training and outreach activities as needed. The ideal candidate should have emotional resilience and handle delicate, highly traumatic situations while staying objective, showing compassion, and maintaining professionalism. MDIs must combine empathy with a strong analytical approach, value accuracy and integrity in public service, and perform well independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

The Medical Examiner's Office offers meaningful work focused on a clear mission, benefiting the community and ensuring that truth and justice are maintained. The position involves working with experienced professionals in the medical, legal, and public safety sectors and offers the opportunity to build specialist knowledge in medicolegal death investigation. Come provide clarity and ensure accountability at important times for both families and the community, making a lasting difference through public service.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience, which includes experience in any of the following fields: Law Enforcement, Medical Services, or Medicolegal Death Investigations
• Experience applying medical and/or law enforcement investigation methods
• Experience in preparing clear and accurate reports, maintaining records, and managing multiple critical priorities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information and interact effectively with individuals experiencing emotional distress
• Demonstrated interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team while maintaining professionalism in high-pressure situations
• Proven judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, with strong analytical and active listening skills
• Cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

• An associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university with major coursework in criminal justice, forensics, crime scene investigation, anthropology, medicolegal death investigation, law enforcement, biology, anatomy, medical, or related studies
• Experience applying knowledge of state statutes regulating death investigations
• Working knowledge of basic rules of legal evidence
• Experience in death investigations, fire, rescue, medical, or law enforcement fields
• Experience working with evidence collection related to the cause and manner of death
• Experience in obtaining information from lay and expert witnesses concerning matters of an intimate nature and serious consequences
• National registration as a Medicolegal Death Investigator from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
• Completed Oregon Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Program

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test
• Must pass a criminal history check, which may include a national or state fingerprint records check
• Must pass a post-offer physical assessment; accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation
• Driving is required for County business on a regular basis or to accomplish work. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license, and possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment.

Post-Employment Requirements:

• Within one (1) year of hire, must possess and maintain national registration as a medicolegal death investigator from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
• Note: A high school diploma or its equivalent is required in order to apply for registration as a Medicolegal Death Investigator with ABMDI
• Within one (1) year of hire, successful completion of Oregon Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Program

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: A cover letter is required as part of your application for this position. We will consider the cover letter as part of your overall application materials. The cover letter must be no more than two pages and should directly address each of the following questions:

• What has motivated you to apply for this position, and how do your qualifications, experience, and professional attributes demonstrate that you are an excellent candidate for the position?
• Describe a situation in which you were required to perform under significant or extreme pressure in the workplace. What circumstances contributed to the pressure, how did you respond, and what was the outcome?

Please ensure that your cover letter addresses both questions and is submitted with your application materials. We may not consider applications submitted without a cover letter.

TYPICAL TASKS: Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Conducts investigations of deaths; takes custody of the body, the personal effects of the deceased, and any weapons, instruments, vehicles, buildings or premises which are believed to be involved in the death; preserves evidence relating to the cause and manner of death.
• Interviews witnesses and relatives of the deceased; takes photographs of the death scene and examines the body for signs of injury or suspicious death; orders removal of the body upon completion of the investigation; recommends further criminal or pathological investigations if indicated.
• Prepares detailed reports on all circumstances relating to deaths, including investigation reports, and inventories for review by the Medicolegal Death Investigator, Chief; testifies in criminal and civil proceedings relating to the investigation activities and findings.
• Provides general information to the public in-person and on the telephone; responds to inquiries from funeral homes, hospitals or other agencies regarding the Medical Examiner's Office functions, jurisdiction, and procedures.
• At the direction of the Medicolegal Death Investigator, Chief, conducts presentations for the public and private sector partners related to Medical Examiner functions and/or public service issues; participates in training seminars for police, fire, and EMS personnel related to the Medical Examiner's Office.
• Conducts follow-up investigations with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, hospital staff, and physicians for medical history and records needed to determine cause of death and manner of death; contacts physicians and dentists to obtain records to determine identity of the decedent.

WORK SCHEDULE: The Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office operates on a structured A, B, C, D shift model to ensure 24/7 coverage. Medical Death Investigators (MDIs) work a 40-hour week within an 80-hour pay period, consisting of two 12-hour shifts and one 16-hour shift each week. Due to the nature of the work and the need for continuous coverage, assigned shifts may include nights, weekends, and holidays. This schedule provides consistent, full-time hours while supporting uninterrupted service to the community.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Duties in the field require occasional to frequent sitting, standing, stepping, walking, squatting, kneeling, bending, twisting, balancing, reaching forward and overhead, climbing, and fine motor control. The ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, push 50 pounds, and pull 75 pounds. Duties also involve exposure to confined spaces, slippery and/or uneven surfaces, dust, chemicals, adverse weather conditions, environmental, biological, and/or health hazards, and unpleasant elements at death scenes. Must be willing to work scheduled 24-hour work/standby shifts. Requires on-call availability beyond assigned shifts.

Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick