What is the role of law enforcement in relation to a Medical Examiner?

The role of law enforcement in relation to a Medical Examiner primarily involves providing supportive functions while allowing the Medical Examiner to conduct their specialized tasks. Within this context, law enforcement acts as an investigative body that collects evidence, manages the crime scene, and gathers necessary information about the circumstances surrounding a death.

One of their key responsibilities includes providing evidence for examination, which is essential for the Medical Examiner to perform an accurate and thorough autopsy. This evidence can include witness statements, physical evidence from the scene, and other relevant information. However, the actual execution of autopsies is not within the jurisdiction of law enforcement, as this is a specialized task carried out by the Medical Examiner or forensic pathologists.

While law enforcement is involved in interviewing individuals, they do not carry out all interviews with suspects, as this can overlap with the roles of other investigative entities, such as detectives or legal representatives. Decisions about charging suspects are typically the purview of prosecutors and legal authorities, who review evidence and determine appropriate charges based on legal criteria.

Thus, law enforcement's primary function is to gather and provide evidence to the Medical Examiner, facilitating a thorough examination of the circumstances leading to the death while respecting the professional boundary of each discipline involved in the medicolegal process.