Kern County Sheriff-Coroner Deputy Coroner Role What will you expect to do? What will you expect to learn? What will you expect to do? What will you expect to learn?

How Many Deaths are Reported in 2012? Total Number of County Deaths = 5,423 Number of Deaths Reported to Coroner = 2,328 Number of Deaths Investigated and Released Jurisdiction = 1,487 Number of In- Person Responses = 785 Number of Autopsy/External Exams = 841

Coroner Jurisdiction What Types of Death Do We Investigate? n Traumatic Deaths such as Accidents, Homicides, Suicides Gunshot StabbingHanging Strangulation Poison Plane Crash Motor Vehicle Off-RoadIndustrial Blunt Force FireFalls Exposures OverdosePedestrian n Traumatic Deaths such as Accidents, Homicides, Suicides Gunshot StabbingHanging Strangulation Poison Plane Crash Motor Vehicle Off-RoadIndustrial Blunt Force FireFalls Exposures OverdosePedestrian

Coroner Jurisdiction Not All Deaths Investigated are Traumatic - NATURAL DEATHS - OTHER TYPES - No Recent Care by - In-Custody for all Doctor state/federal prisons Doctor state/federal prisons - Has no Doctor and county facilities - Failed to Wake after - Baby Deaths Surgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified Persons Surgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified Persons - Persons with No - Persons with No Known Family Known Family - Family Known but Not - Family Known but Not Present Present - NATURAL DEATHS - OTHER TYPES - No Recent Care by - In-Custody for all Doctor state/federal prisons Doctor state/federal prisons - Has no Doctor and county facilities - Failed to Wake after - Baby Deaths Surgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified Persons Surgery or Anesthesia - Unidentified Persons - Persons with No - Persons with No Known Family Known Family - Family Known but Not - Family Known but Not Present Present

What Can I Expect in Training? n Probation 1 Year n Must Attend Coroner Academy during lst Year and Pass POST Exam lst Year and Pass POST Exam n Must Complete PC832 and Meet ALL Sheriff Range Qualifications. Sheriff Range Qualifications. n Probation 1 Year n Must Attend Coroner Academy during lst Year and Pass POST Exam lst Year and Pass POST Exam n Must Complete PC832 and Meet ALL Sheriff Range Qualifications. Sheriff Range Qualifications.

What Can I Expect in Training? n Learn Medical Terminology!!!!! n Spend Time Learning about Autopsies n Learn to Speak Fluently with Doctors Regarding Medical History n Learn How to Investigate ALL Types of Deaths n Learn to Navigate all of Kern County n Learn Coroner Jurisdictions as well as Other Agency Jurisdictions [prisons, military, Indian burial sites, law enforcement, etc] n Must Interact with ALL Citizens and Agencies in a Calm, Professional Manner n Learn to Intake/Release Bodies to Mortuaries n Learn Medical Terminology!!!!! n Spend Time Learning about Autopsies n Learn to Speak Fluently with Doctors Regarding Medical History n Learn How to Investigate ALL Types of Deaths n Learn to Navigate all of Kern County n Learn Coroner Jurisdictions as well as Other Agency Jurisdictions [prisons, military, Indian burial sites, law enforcement, etc] n Must Interact with ALL Citizens and Agencies in a Calm, Professional Manner n Learn to Intake/Release Bodies to Mortuaries

What Can I Expect in Training? n Learn to Process County Cremations n Learn How to Identify Decedent n Learn How to Establish Next of Kin n Seize/Safeguard Property n Seize/Count Medications/Illicit Drugs n Learn Public Administrator Jurisdiction n Learn Case Management Software n Learn State-Wide Electronic Death Registry Software n Complete Death Notifications n Learn to Process County Cremations n Learn How to Identify Decedent n Learn How to Establish Next of Kin n Seize/Safeguard Property n Seize/Count Medications/Illicit Drugs n Learn Public Administrator Jurisdiction n Learn Case Management Software n Learn State-Wide Electronic Death Registry Software n Complete Death Notifications

Reporting Agencies to Coroner All Police Departments in County All Fire Departments in County All Hospitals in County Hospice Providers All Convalescent Homes in County California Highway Patrol All Mortuaries in County All Prison or Jail Facilities Out of County Hospitals Out of County Coroner Offices All Police Departments in County All Fire Departments in County All Hospitals in County Hospice Providers All Convalescent Homes in County California Highway Patrol All Mortuaries in County All Prison or Jail Facilities Out of County Hospitals Out of County Coroner Offices

Physical Aspects n Work/travel in extreme heat, cold, fog, rain, etc. n Must be able to squat/bend, push/pull routinely n Work in confined spaces, climb up/down embankments, hike through various terrain n Must be willing to accept smells, touch decomposed bodies, including maggots, bloody scenes. n Must be willing to work long hours on scenes in unpleasant conditions when required n Must be willing to grid/dig for buried bodies, when necessary n Work/travel in extreme heat, cold, fog, rain, etc. n Must be able to squat/bend, push/pull routinely n Work in confined spaces, climb up/down embankments, hike through various terrain n Must be willing to accept smells, touch decomposed bodies, including maggots, bloody scenes. n Must be willing to work long hours on scenes in unpleasant conditions when required n Must be willing to grid/dig for buried bodies, when necessary

Things to Know n Will work long hours n Will work shift work n Will get called in early or need to stay late n Must be detail oriented n Must be self-starter n Must be a team player n Will work long hours n Will work shift work n Will get called in early or need to stay late n Must be detail oriented n Must be self-starter n Must be a team player

BEST PREPARATION n Get your education – degree with medical/biology background helpful n Select employment to enhance skills – need investigative skills, can come from probation, social work, case management, etc n No criminal background – petty theft, alcohol, drugs, including poor credit. n Get your education – degree with medical/biology background helpful n Select employment to enhance skills – need investigative skills, can come from probation, social work, case management, etc n No criminal background – petty theft, alcohol, drugs, including poor credit.

Job Availability n Limited – Few deputy coroner counties n Limited – Most stay until retirement, not much turn over. n Hiring – Civil Service guidelines n More common – Deputy Sheriff that work in Coroner function [Northern CA] n Limited advancement available n Limited – Few deputy coroner counties n Limited – Most stay until retirement, not much turn over. n Hiring – Civil Service guidelines n More common – Deputy Sheriff that work in Coroner function [Northern CA] n Limited advancement available

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

Recommendation n Practice good habits/behaviors. Do not sully your reputation. n Finish your education. n Need work experience(s) to enhance skills [wide variety] n Recognize deputy coroner position an option but not a goal. n Be prepared should job be available, be open to different locations n Practice good habits/behaviors. Do not sully your reputation. n Finish your education. n Need work experience(s) to enhance skills [wide variety] n Recognize deputy coroner position an option but not a goal. n Be prepared should job be available, be open to different locations

EXTRA-HELP POSITIONS n Autopsy Assistant n Deputy Coroner n These are always open and applications accepted, does not mean positions available n Rarely hire extra help positions, if we do, then we pull from the list n Autopsy Assistant n Deputy Coroner n These are always open and applications accepted, does not mean positions available n Rarely hire extra help positions, if we do, then we pull from the list