Deputy Coroner

[raf1919]

Hi I was looking at this field, but haven't found to much info on this job. anyone have any expierence with this position or have worked w/ one. Just wondering if its a good career or one of those you take and look for something bettery types. how are the hours, 24/7 or 8-5? Is the pay good and a lot of advancment? i read they are armed too? any perks like a G ride?

thank you.

[raf1919]

anyone... please...

[audi0xpl0de]

Do you have a medical degree?

[raf1919]

no 4yr BS criminal justice.

i'm not interested in the medical examiner position, but rather the deputy coroner, i was under impression that is investigator position?

[audi0xpl0de]

I'd have to see the announcement but coroners are also referred as medical examiners and require some sort of medical degree or training. A deputy coroner would be an assistant to the primary.

[raf1919]

Required Skills
Must be 21 years of age. Must pass a physical examination, and be free from any physical, emotional or mental condition which might adversely effect exercise of the Deputy Coroner powers, as determined by a licensed examining authority. Must be able to speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly over the telephone and to groups of people. Must have body mobility and agility to respond to crime scene situations and the strength to push, pull, or assist in lifting weights of up to and in excess of 200 pounds. Must pass a background investigation to the satisfaction of the Coroner. Must possess a valid Illinois Driver’s License and a satisfactory driving record. Must be able to obtain or have an Illinois Firearms Owners Identification card.
Required Experience
Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Criminal Justice, Biology, Nursing, Forensic Science, Mortuary Science, or other related subject to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Or Possession of an Associates Degree from an accredited college with an emphasis in Criminal Justice, Biology, Paramedic Science, Mortuary Science, or others, combined with two years experience as a Peace Officer, Investigator, Paramedic, Deputy Coroner, Registered Nurse, Mortician, or other related medical/science/legal/military experience

[ISPCAPT]

In IL coroners are an elected position. They are not medical examiners in IL. An ME is an entirely different position. To be a coroner in IL they just need to run for office and get more votes than the other person. They do not have to have any medical training whatsoever. For example, the coroners in the counties where I've worked 1 was a secretary, one was a truck driver, another had been a deputy, another had been a farmer, another had bounced around all kinds of manual labor jobs. It's all political. Experience and training has nothing to do with the job of coroner.
The deputy coroners are hired by the coroner. They're usually political friends of the coroner.
None of them do indepth investigations. That is done by the LEA. The coroners pronounce a person dead and then hold a coroners jury to rule on the manner of death. The juries are comprised of friends of the coroner. The info presented at the inquest is taken from police reports.

[raf1919]

In IL coroners are an elected position. They are not medical examiners in IL. An ME is an entirely different position. To be a coroner in IL they just need to run for office and get more votes than the other person. They do not have to have any medical training whatsoever. For example, the coroners in the counties where I've worked 1 was a secretary, one was a truck driver, another had been a deputy, another had been a farmer, another had bounced around all kinds of manual labor jobs. It's all political. Experience and training has nothing to do with the job of coroner.
The deputy coroners are hired by the coroner. They're usually political friends of the coroner.
None of them do indepth investigations. That is done by the LEA. The coroners pronounce a person dead and then hold a coroners jury to rule on the manner of death. The juries are comprised of friends of the coroner. The info presented at the inquest is taken from police reports.

thank you for the feedback.. can you tell me a lil more. like what kinda of hours do the deputys work? night,weekends?? do they carry a gun? have arrest powers?

[bajakirch]

A guy I know left IL to become a deputy coroner here in WI. As was posted previously, Coroner is an elected position in each county. The Coroner then hires who he wants as Assistant Coroners. I can't speak for the whole state, but in my experience, the more populated counties tend to have more professional people in the role of DC.

The one I know was a PD sergeant who medically retired due to partial deafness. He took the position to stay in a similar field. Our DCs don't carry guns, but do have badges.

[raf1919]

yea i get the whole policitical thing. i'm more curious about the deputy position and what the job entails. the hours.. line of work.. good job/bad job?? how do the deputies and LEO get along?? thx.

[ISPCAPT]

I've worked in over 3/4 of the counties in IL and I've never seen a coroner or deputy coroner carry a firearm. They are not LEOs. They do not receive LEO training. Coroners have their own training which is a short couple of weeks and it has nothing to do with LE work.
They work when there is a dead body. Deputy coroners are usually part time kind of positions who fill in when the coroner isn't available. The 2 deputy coroners I've worked the most with one was a newspaper photographer and the other is a volunteer firearm and farmer. The coroners I've worked the most with one was a secretary and has no degree other than high school. Another ran a tow truck and small gas station.
The arrest power the coroner has, which does not include deputy coroners, is they are the only person in the county who has the authority to arrest the sheriff.
Some like to think they're LEOs. I've seen some really screwed up incidents that a coroner has done on homicide scenes. One in particular the coroner walked thru our crime scene as we were still processing and moved the body before it was photographed and examined. Had we had to go to trial on that case none of our crime scene evidence would have been any good. Fortunately the BG pled which saved the coroner much embarrassment and the state's attorney from having to toss the case. Most coroners know their place tho and stay out of the scene until the LEOs are done. Some tho like to grandstand. It's a political position and some like to get in front of cameras and talk the big talk like they're the ones solving the crimes. It's about getting votes.

[raf1919]

the ones i'm looking at the chicagoland ones. cook, lake, dupage, etc. they all seem to have a full time staff off 6-7 deputies. also shows they have fire arm training as well.

any expierence working w/ those counties?

again thanks for all the feedback, been very helpful in my research.

[ISPCAPT]

Cook has an ME. Worked with the DuPage coroner about 20 yrs ago. Can't remember his name. Don't recall anything specific about him. He did his job and I did mine. No problems.
Not sure what you're wanting to get in to other than it sounds like just carry a gun. Coroners don't do the big investigations. By the time they are called all the action is done with and it's a crime scene. It may be their body but it's not their crime scene.

[PhilipCal]

ISPCapts replies also cover Alabama very well. Coronors are elected,and possess absolutely no LE powers. Thus they are not armed. The great majority of Alabama Coronors realize their limitations,and do not get in the way of crime scene investigations. Additionally,Alabama has a Dept of Forensic Sciences. Medical Examiners (Doctors) employed by this agency are Forensic Pathologists,and perform autopsys on all deaths not attended by a Physician. The Department has labs throughout the state, each lab covering several counties. In past years,some Sheriff's Depts in California had the position of "Deputy Sheriff/Coronor". These personnel are LE Officers,and full time Deputy Sheriffs. As I recall,these dual positions were in rural counties,where it made a great deal of sense to have Deputies classified as Deputy Coronors as well. I don't know if this is a current California practice though.

[ChiTownDet]

Cook County ME Investigators have a badge, not a star, but don't carry a gun. It is a very political job and chances of you getting it by just applying out of thin air are very slim...

[AvalancheZ71]

The office of coroner has nearly been abolished in Tennesee. They removed the position out of the TN Constitutuion back in 1978. Now it is optional for a county to elect one. The counties have an option to elect a conorer, and the election is held by the county commissioners. So really it is an appointment rather than an election.

The county legislative body is hereby granted discretionary authority to create the office of county coroner. If such office is created, the county legislative body shall elect a coroner who shall hold office for two (2) years, and until a successor is qualified. However, in those counties that have a county medical examiner, the county legislative body may vest the duties of the county coroner in the county medical examiner and shall not be required to elect a county coroner.

The statues relating to conorers if read on it's face would lead one to belive that the coroner possess little to no law enforcement powers. However, § 1-3-105 defines the office as on as a ministerial office of justice. Therefore, § 38-3-103 as a mininsterail office of justice, the coroner is given the power to keep the peace and act with the power of the sheriff. The coroner also can act when the sheriff is not present. The coroner can also serve arrest warrants.

As in other states the coroner holds an inquest and he summons juries. The coroner gets to pick the jury members. Also as in other states the coroner also has the power to appoint deputies. The coroner has statutory power to arrest those implicated by a jury through an inquest. Since the coroner is elected rather than appointed, he is exempt from having to have law enforcement training. The coroner is really appointed, but the law states that he is elected by the county commission in lieu of stating appointed.

I am not sure of how many counties in TN still elect a coroner. I know mine does not.