Chief Deputy Coroner

This is a promotional recruitment - only permanent and/or probationary County employees are eligible to apply.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Deputy Sheriff's Assoc - Safety benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County’s Human Resources website.

To plan, organize, and direct the functional activities of the Sheriff's Office Coroner’s unit; supervise the work of sworn, professional and clerical staff in the Coroner’s unit; and perform a variety of technical tasks related to the Coroner’s unit.

The Chief Deputy Coroner performs full, first-line supervisory responsibilities including planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of sworn, professional and clerical staff in the Coroner’s unit. The Chief Deputy Coroner is responsible for the Coroner’s unit within the Sheriff’s Office.

Receives immediate direction from a Captain or Lieutenant and general direction from the Sheriff's Department Administrative Services division head, management staff, or other designated authority. Exercises direct supervision over personnel in the Coroner’s unit.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, organize, and direct the functional activities of the Coroner’s unit; implement policies and procedures.
• Plan, assign, evaluate, and supervise the work of sworn, professional and clerical staff in the Coroner’s unit, which may include participating in the selection of staff, providing and/or coordinating staff training, conducting performance evaluations, and recommending and implementing disciplinary actions.
• Review operations in accordance with applicable state and local statutes and make recommendations to improve operational efficiency; develop and maintain an operations and procedures manual and ensure, in collaboration with the Sheriff’s division Training Officer, deputies in the field receive periodic updates and notification of changes in policy or procedure; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Review reports prepared by deputies in the field for thoroughness, correct medical terminology, and accuracy.
• Provide coordination and/or information to mortuaries, health department officials, transport agencies, laboratories, physicians, hospitals, social service agencies, law enforcement, and others contacted during the course of work.
• Coordinate autopsies with pathologists and assigned law enforcement personnel in order to facilitate an orderly processing of cases and achieve accurate medical determinations; sign and record death certificates; oversee the retention of mandated records.
• Conduct interviews with family members of deceased, or last person in attendance or present at the time of death; arrange for organ donation, if necessary; arrange for notification of next of kin and release of property held in safekeeping to next of kin.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; submit justifications for section or program needs; monitor and control expenditures.
• Participate in the negotiation, administration, monitoring, and evaluation of contracts with outside vendors and suppliers.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible law enforcement experience, which includes at least two years of experience comparable to a Deputy Sheriff II with Placer County Sheriff's Office and at least two years experience performing Coroner’s unit assignments similar to a Deputy Sheriff II assigned to a Coroner’s unit.

Training: Completion of the twelfth grade or G.E.D.

License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of a Peace Officer Standards and Training Basic Certificate and be eligible to obtain a P.O.S.T. Supervisory Certificate within two years from date of appointment.

Knowledge of:

• Organization, rules, regulations and procedures of the Sheriff's Office.
• Principles and practices of the Coroner’s unit.
• Pertinent local, State, and Federal laws, regulations, ordinances, and rules related to the Coroner’s unit.
• Principles and practices of local government and law enforcement operations.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Principles and practices of organizational analysis and policy development.
• Principles of modern methods of public administration and business administration, including an emphasis on budget preparation and monitoring.
• Interviewing and interrogation techniques.
• Standard medical terminology as it applies to Coroner’s investigations.
• Modern office methods, practices, and procedures.
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• Principles, methods and techniques of law enforcement work; principles of criminal law, including the regulations surrounding arrest, search and seizure, rules of evidence.
• Laws applicable to apprehension and treatment of juveniles.
• Offensive and defensive weapons nomenclature and theory; use and care of firearms, chemical agents, baton and other related law enforcement paraphernalia.
• Principles and practices of self-defense.
• County geography, noting streets and building locations.

Ability to:

• Organize, coordinate, and direct the functions of the Coroner’s unit.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of a sworn peace officer's job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; remember accounts given by witnesses; identify crime suspects; interpret and apply the law to field situations; observe while conducting coroner’s duties at a crime scene and during interviews; problem solve crime situations; and explain law to public.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in coroner vehicle; walk and stand during coroner activities; bend, squat and kneel during inspection of crime scenes; climb stairs and/or ladders while in the field; twist while conducting field activities; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation.  Intermittently wearing utility belt and other law enforcement equipment of 30 pounds; and intermittently lift very heavy weight.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, facsimile machine, and photocopy machine.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Interpret and explain pertinent County and Department policies and procedures.
• Analyze technical reports, and evaluate staff reports.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and complete records, reports, and files.
• Prepare, monitor, and review the Coroner’s unit budget.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; exercise good judgement and make sound decisions under a variety of conditions; resolve conflicts in an effective manner.
• Work effectively in stressful situations; act quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to the Coroner’s unit.
• Enforce the law firmly, tactfully and impartially; deal courteously with the general public, subordinates, employee organizations, other County departments and other agencies; interpret, explain and apply laws and regulations to staff and the public.
• Skillfully and properly use and care for firearms.
• Maintain good physical, emotional and mental condition to satisfactorily perform the functions of the position; meet and maintain required peace officer employment standards to safely and effectively perform assigned duties.
• Obtain information through interviewing and interrogation.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.