The Medical Examiner’s Office will provide presentations about death investigation to community partners including law enforcement, emergency medical services and health care providers upon request. We also work with local high schools to present on death investigation during healthcare career courses.

Marathon County has three death review teams that review the circumstances surrounding child deaths, overdose fatalities, and suicide. The Death Review Teams are comprised of local community partners who are dedicated to prevention and improving services throughout Marathon County. These partners include local law enforcement agencies, mental health providers, health care systems, physicians, emergency medical services, health department, medical examiner’s office, social services, and numerous other community partners and agencies.

The purpose of the death review teams is to review and form recommendations for prevention initiatives based upon the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The main goals of the death review team are:

• Identify opportunities to strengthen existing community resources for general and mental health services.

• Provide improved services to the families impacted by their loss.

• Improve community understanding of suicide, substance misuse, and child deaths and resources available.

• Reduce the stigma around mental health, substance misuse, and suicide.

• Provide recommendations to community organizations based upon review findings.

• Identify opportunities for legislative policy or practice initiatives to expand efforts to prevent future deaths.

Preventable deaths continue to impact our communities nationwide; however, with collective commitment, we can enhance understanding and improve prevention of this devastating outcome.

On occasion the Medical Examiner’s Office will allow for job shadows and ride alongs to take place. To qualify, the interested individual must be 18 years old, currently employed in healthcare, law enforcement or looking to be employed in one of those fields. You will be required to attend a pre-shadow/ride along interview and must sign a confidentiality agreement.

The Medical Examiner’s Office also provides forensic career information to interested high school and college students. Some of the areas include forensic nursing, death investigation, forensic pathology, and related areas. If interested, please contact the Medical Examiner’s Office to schedule a meeting.