Kern County Sheriff-Kern County Sheriff-CoronerCoroner

Deputy Coroner RoleDeputy Coroner RoleWhat will you expect to do?What will you expect to do?

What will you expect to learn?What will you expect to learn?What will you expect to do?What will you expect to do?

What will you expect to learn?What will you expect to learn?

How Many Deaths are How Many Deaths are Reported in 2012?Reported in 2012?

Coroner Jurisdiction Coroner Jurisdiction What Types of Death Do We What Types of Death Do We

Investigate?Investigate? Traumatic Deaths such as Accidents, Traumatic Deaths such as Accidents,

Homicides, SuicidesHomicides, SuicidesGunshotGunshot Stabbing Stabbing HangingHanging

Strangulation PoisonStrangulation Poison Plane Plane CrashCrash

Motor Vehicle Off-RoadMotor Vehicle Off-Road IndustrialIndustrial

Blunt Force FireBlunt Force Fire FallsFalls

ExposuresExposures Overdose OverdosePedestrianPedestrian

Traumatic Deaths such as Accidents, Traumatic Deaths such as Accidents, Homicides, SuicidesHomicides, Suicides

GunshotGunshot Stabbing Stabbing HangingHanging

Strangulation PoisonStrangulation Poison Plane Plane CrashCrash

Motor Vehicle Off-RoadMotor Vehicle Off-Road IndustrialIndustrial

Blunt Force FireBlunt Force Fire FallsFalls

ExposuresExposures Overdose OverdosePedestrianPedestrian

Coroner JurisdictionCoroner JurisdictionNot All Deaths Investigated are Not All Deaths Investigated are

TraumaticTraumatic- NATURAL DEATHS - OTHER TYPESNATURAL DEATHS - OTHER TYPES- No Recent Care byNo Recent Care by - In-Custody for all - In-Custody for all

Doctor state/federal prisonsDoctor state/federal prisons- Has no DoctorHas no Doctor and county facilities and county facilities- Failed to Wake afterFailed to Wake after - Baby Deaths - Baby Deaths

Surgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified PersonsSurgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified Persons

- Persons with No- Persons with No

Known FamilyKnown Family

- Family Known but Not - Family Known but Not

PresentPresent

- NATURAL DEATHS - OTHER TYPESNATURAL DEATHS - OTHER TYPES- No Recent Care byNo Recent Care by - In-Custody for all - In-Custody for all

Doctor state/federal prisonsDoctor state/federal prisons- Has no DoctorHas no Doctor and county facilities and county facilities- Failed to Wake afterFailed to Wake after - Baby Deaths - Baby Deaths

Surgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified PersonsSurgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified Persons

- Persons with No- Persons with No

Known FamilyKnown Family

- Family Known but Not - Family Known but Not

PresentPresent

What Can I Expect in What Can I Expect in Training?Training?

Probation 1 YearProbation 1 Year Must Attend Coroner Academy Must Attend Coroner Academy

duringduring

lst Year and Pass POST Examlst Year and Pass POST Exam Must Complete PC832 and Meet ALLMust Complete PC832 and Meet ALL

Sheriff Range Qualifications.Sheriff Range Qualifications.

Probation 1 YearProbation 1 Year Must Attend Coroner Academy Must Attend Coroner Academy

duringduring

lst Year and Pass POST Examlst Year and Pass POST Exam Must Complete PC832 and Meet ALLMust Complete PC832 and Meet ALL

Sheriff Range Qualifications.Sheriff Range Qualifications.

What Can I Expect in Training?What Can I Expect in Training?

Learn Medical Terminology!!!!!Learn Medical Terminology!!!!! Spend Time Learning about AutopsiesSpend Time Learning about Autopsies Learn to Speak Fluently with Doctors Regarding Medical Learn to Speak Fluently with Doctors Regarding Medical

HistoryHistory Learn How to Investigate ALL Types of DeathsLearn How to Investigate ALL Types of Deaths Learn to Navigate all of Kern CountyLearn to Navigate all of Kern County Learn Coroner Jurisdictions as well as Other Agency Learn Coroner Jurisdictions as well as Other Agency

Jurisdictions [prisons, military, Indian burial sites, law Jurisdictions [prisons, military, Indian burial sites, law enforcement, etc]enforcement, etc]

Must Interact with ALL Citizens and Agencies in a Calm, Must Interact with ALL Citizens and Agencies in a Calm, Professional MannerProfessional Manner

Learn to Intake/Release Bodies to MortuariesLearn to Intake/Release Bodies to Mortuaries

Learn Medical Terminology!!!!!Learn Medical Terminology!!!!! Spend Time Learning about AutopsiesSpend Time Learning about Autopsies Learn to Speak Fluently with Doctors Regarding Medical Learn to Speak Fluently with Doctors Regarding Medical

HistoryHistory Learn How to Investigate ALL Types of DeathsLearn How to Investigate ALL Types of Deaths Learn to Navigate all of Kern CountyLearn to Navigate all of Kern County Learn Coroner Jurisdictions as well as Other Agency Learn Coroner Jurisdictions as well as Other Agency

Jurisdictions [prisons, military, Indian burial sites, law Jurisdictions [prisons, military, Indian burial sites, law enforcement, etc]enforcement, etc]

Must Interact with ALL Citizens and Agencies in a Calm, Must Interact with ALL Citizens and Agencies in a Calm, Professional MannerProfessional Manner

Learn to Intake/Release Bodies to MortuariesLearn to Intake/Release Bodies to Mortuaries

What Can I Expect in Training?What Can I Expect in Training?

Learn to Process County CremationsLearn to Process County Cremations Learn How to Identify DecedentLearn How to Identify Decedent Learn How to Establish Next of KinLearn How to Establish Next of Kin Seize/Safeguard PropertySeize/Safeguard Property Seize/Count Medications/Illicit DrugsSeize/Count Medications/Illicit Drugs Learn Public Administrator JurisdictionLearn Public Administrator Jurisdiction Learn Case Management SoftwareLearn Case Management Software Learn State-Wide Electronic Death Registry Learn State-Wide Electronic Death Registry

SoftwareSoftware Complete Death NotificationsComplete Death Notifications

Learn to Process County CremationsLearn to Process County Cremations Learn How to Identify DecedentLearn How to Identify Decedent Learn How to Establish Next of KinLearn How to Establish Next of Kin Seize/Safeguard PropertySeize/Safeguard Property Seize/Count Medications/Illicit DrugsSeize/Count Medications/Illicit Drugs Learn Public Administrator JurisdictionLearn Public Administrator Jurisdiction Learn Case Management SoftwareLearn Case Management Software Learn State-Wide Electronic Death Registry Learn State-Wide Electronic Death Registry

SoftwareSoftware Complete Death NotificationsComplete Death Notifications

Reporting Agencies to CoronerReporting Agencies to Coroner

Things to KnowThings to Know

Will work long hoursWill work long hours Will work shift workWill work shift work Will get called in early or need to Will get called in early or need to

stay latestay late Must be detail orientedMust be detail oriented Must be self-starterMust be self-starter Must be a team playerMust be a team player

Will work long hoursWill work long hours Will work shift workWill work shift work Will get called in early or need to Will get called in early or need to

stay latestay late Must be detail orientedMust be detail oriented Must be self-starterMust be self-starter Must be a team playerMust be a team player

BEST PREPARATIONBEST PREPARATION

Get your education – degree with Get your education – degree with medical/biology background helpfulmedical/biology background helpful

Select employment to enhance skills Select employment to enhance skills – need investigative skills, can come – need investigative skills, can come from probation, social work, case from probation, social work, case management, etcmanagement, etc

No criminal background – petty theft, No criminal background – petty theft, alcohol, drugs, including poor credit.alcohol, drugs, including poor credit.

Get your education – degree with Get your education – degree with medical/biology background helpfulmedical/biology background helpful

Select employment to enhance skills Select employment to enhance skills – need investigative skills, can come – need investigative skills, can come from probation, social work, case from probation, social work, case management, etcmanagement, etc

No criminal background – petty theft, No criminal background – petty theft, alcohol, drugs, including poor credit.alcohol, drugs, including poor credit.

Job AvailabilityJob Availability

Limited – Few deputy coroner countiesLimited – Few deputy coroner counties Limited – Most stay until retirement, Limited – Most stay until retirement,

not much turn over.not much turn over. Hiring – Civil Service guidelinesHiring – Civil Service guidelines More common – Deputy Sheriff that More common – Deputy Sheriff that

work in Coroner function [Northern work in Coroner function [Northern CA]CA]

Limited advancement availableLimited advancement available

Limited – Few deputy coroner countiesLimited – Few deputy coroner counties Limited – Most stay until retirement, Limited – Most stay until retirement,

not much turn over.not much turn over. Hiring – Civil Service guidelinesHiring – Civil Service guidelines More common – Deputy Sheriff that More common – Deputy Sheriff that

work in Coroner function [Northern work in Coroner function [Northern CA]CA]

Limited advancement availableLimited advancement available

FAQFAQ

Do you have internships?Do you have internships? Do you accept volunteers?Do you accept volunteers? Can I apply right out of college?Can I apply right out of college? Is one degree best?Is one degree best? What do you think is the best What do you think is the best

course of action?course of action?

Do you have internships?Do you have internships? Do you accept volunteers?Do you accept volunteers? Can I apply right out of college?Can I apply right out of college? Is one degree best?Is one degree best? What do you think is the best What do you think is the best

course of action?course of action?

RecommendationRecommendation

Practice good habits/behaviors. Do not sully Practice good habits/behaviors. Do not sully your reputation.your reputation.

Finish your education.Finish your education. Need work experience(s) to enhance skills Need work experience(s) to enhance skills

[wide variety][wide variety] Recognize deputy coroner position an option Recognize deputy coroner position an option

but not a goal.but not a goal. Be prepared should job be available, be open Be prepared should job be available, be open

to different locationsto different locations

Practice good habits/behaviors. Do not sully Practice good habits/behaviors. Do not sully your reputation.your reputation.

Finish your education.Finish your education. Need work experience(s) to enhance skills Need work experience(s) to enhance skills

[wide variety][wide variety] Recognize deputy coroner position an option Recognize deputy coroner position an option

but not a goal.but not a goal. Be prepared should job be available, be open Be prepared should job be available, be open

to different locationsto different locations

EXTRA-HELP POSITIONSEXTRA-HELP POSITIONS

Autopsy AssistantAutopsy Assistant Deputy CoronerDeputy Coroner These are always open and These are always open and

applications accepted, does not applications accepted, does not mean positions availablemean positions available

Rarely hire extra help positions, if Rarely hire extra help positions, if we do, then we pull from the list we do, then we pull from the list

Autopsy AssistantAutopsy Assistant Deputy CoronerDeputy Coroner These are always open and These are always open and

applications accepted, does not applications accepted, does not mean positions availablemean positions available

Rarely hire extra help positions, if Rarely hire extra help positions, if we do, then we pull from the list we do, then we pull from the list