RE-ELECT DOTTI OWENS
FOR ADA COUNTY CORONER
Dotti’s Experience, Certifications,
Memberships & Education
Why is experience important for this position, in particular for the people of Ada County?
Multi-Agency Mass Fatality Training
It is the Ada County Coroner’s duty to determine cause and manner of death. Was the death natural or an accident? Was it a suicide or homicide? What caused the death? What are the events, diseases and/or trauma that resulted in the death of the individual? And what were the circumstances of the death?
Complete, accurate, and competent death investigations are imperative for families within our community. Families of decedents need the reassurance of experience and consistency of accuracy pertaining to the death of their loved ones when settling estates, filing life insurance claims, and seeking medical care based on our recommendations after forensic investigations. Public health and safety are also affected. Without actual qualifications and experience, public health risks increase. The position of Coroner is not a position that can be “figured out as you go”.
The Ada County Coroner’s office aids the community in multiple ways. Aiding in finding closure while expressing compassion, respecting their loss, and valuing the life they lost. The lives of individuals within our great community are affected on a daily basis by the loss of a loved one and it is essential that for you, your Coroner is experienced when determining cause and manner of death.
Experience is REQUIRED to maintain accreditations for the Ada County Coroner’s office.
Dotti’s Career Experience
Ada County Coroner’s Office
Ada County Coroner’s Office (ACCO) – Boise, Idaho
Prior to my time as Ada County Coroner, I was the Forensic Supervisor and a Medicolegal Death Investigator at the Ada County Coroner’s Office. I started my medicolegal death investigation journey while attending college almost 12 years ago. I hold a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice (Administration and Criminology) and am currently moving forward with obtaining my PHD in Public Policy and Administrations. My education is crucial for understanding best practices, chain of custody and jurisprudence, policies/procedures and helping to change legislation, education, and being in the forefront of national committees.
I have personally investigated and reviewed thousands of scenes ranging from suicides to homicides, child deaths to hospices, each and every one equally as important as the other. In 2011 I obtained my American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigations (AMBDI) certification and am a registered diplomat. I am Board Certified eligible for the ABMDI Fellowship, which I will be testing and obtaining within the next few months. This certification requires 4,000 hours of medicolegal death investigation, demonstrating my experience in the field.
I have extensive knowledge in all divisions of the office and have led the Ada County Coroner’s Office to becoming the third Coroner’s jurisdiction in the nation, obtaining the prestigious accreditations through National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IAC&ME) and have also successfully trained my investigations team effectively so that they have obtained the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigator (ABMDI) certification.
I hold all the necessary experience and qualifications to continue to move the Ada County Coroner’s Office forward, not only within the state of Idaho, but the nation as well.
Dotti’s Investigation Certification/ Training
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
Fentalogs: Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Illicit Fentanyl and Emerging Opioids – 2018
Ohio’s Assertive Approach to Scheduling Opioids and Fentanyl Analogs – 2018
The Making of an Opioid Crisis in America – 2018
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
Full Accreditation – Boise, Idaho – 2017
Idaho State Association of County Coroners (ISACC)
Pharmaceutical Training – Boise, Idaho – 2017
Mass Fatality and Forest Service – Idaho City – 2015
FBI Mass Fatality School Shooting Exercise – 2015
Child Pattern Injury Investigation, Abuse and Torture Certificate – Boise, Idaho – 2010
Investigation of Suspicious Burn Injuries and Torture – 2010
Annual Training’s and Certifications, 2009-Present
International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IAC&ME)
Advanced Medicolegal Death Investigation and Forensics Certification – Las Vegas, Nevada – 2015,2016 & 2018
Accreditation for the Ada County Coroner’s Office – Boise, Idaho – 2016
Saint Louis University School of Medicine-American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator – Registry #1744 – 2011 Diplomat
ABMDI Masters Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Certificate – 2017
Masters 17 for Advanced Death Investigators Conference – 2017
ABMDI Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Certificate (Basic) – 2010
Public Agency Training Council
SUDI/Infant Death Homicide – 2015
Mass Fatality Preparedness
Boise Airport Mass Fatality Training (State) – 2016
Multi-Agency
Earthquake Tabletop – Gowen Field – 2015
Criminal Justice Information System Security and Awareness Training
Level 1 CJIS Security Training – 2016
Society of Medicolegal Death Investigators (SOMDI)
From the Field: Case Presentations – 2016
Death Investigation and Fire Certificate – 2015
Blood Spatter Certificate – 2014
Crime Scene Investigation Certificate – 2014
Shooting Reconstruction Certificate – 2014
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Emergency Management, IS-00800.b National Response Framework Introduction
Emergency Management, IS-00200.a
Emergency Management, IS- 00100.a Incident Command System Introduction
Emergency Management, IS- 700, 705, 706 National Incident Management System
Emergency Management, IS-701a, 702,703,704 Resource Management
American Institute of Toxicology Laboratories
Toxicology Training Course – 2010
The National Forensic Science Technology Center
Forensic Sciences: An Overview for Medicolegal Death Investigators – 2010
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
23rd Annual Forensic Anthropology Course – 2010
Professional Organizations / Memberships
American Academy of Forensic Science 2018 –Present
- Medicolegal Death Investigations Standards Workgroup
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) 2017- Present
- Full Office Accreditation
- Membership
National Association of Counties (NACo) 2015 – Present
- RAC Steering Committee — Present
- Healthy Counties Initiative Board – Present
- Health and Human Services Co-Chair – Present
- Rural Action Caucus Committee – 2017-Present
- Western Interstate Region Committee – Present
- Woman of NACo – 2016 – Present
- Human Services and Education Steering Committee – 2016-Present
- Subcommittee Vice-Chair: Education, Children, and Families
International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IAC&ME) 2011 – Present
- Fellow Member – 2015 to Present
- Office member- 2015 to Present
Idaho State Association of Counties 2015 – 2017
- Intergovernmental Affairs Committee – 2018
- Health and Human Services Committee 2016-2017
- Legislative Committee, Coroner Representative – 2015 – Present
- Justice and Public Safety Committee – 2016-2017
- District III Representative — 2016
Society of Medicolegal Death Investigators (SOMDI) 2015 – Present
- Active Member
American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) 2011 – Present
- Board Certified Diplomat
Idaho State Association of County Coroners 2007 – 2013 & 2015 – Present
- Vice President 2017 – Present
- Secretary 2016-2017
- Education Committee Chair 2017 & 2018
- Board Member 2015 – Present
- Legislative Representative 2015 – Present
- Education Committee 2015 – Present
Idaho Office of Drug Policy 2017-Present
- Opioid Misuse and Overdose Workgroup
TIP Trauma Intervention Prevention 2015 – Present
Kids Count Too- Executive Board 2017 – Present
The Governor’s Task Force on Children At Risk 2016 – Present
- Idaho Child Fatality Review Team Member
Publications
Ada County Coroner’s Office
- Business Plan – 2017
- Coroner Report – 2016 & 2017
- Policy and Procedural Manual – 2016
- Quality Control Manual – 2016
- Regional Mass Fatality Plan – 2016
Twin Falls County Coroner’s Office
- Policy and Procedure Manual – 2010
- Coroner Brochure – 2010
Idaho State Coroner Association
- State Implemented Training Program
- State Legislation – 2018
Dotti’s Volunteer & Community Outreach Efforts
- Organized and implemented Ada County’s annual “Memorial for the Forgotten”, where over 60 cremains that were improperly stored were given a proper resting place in a donated crypt.
- Advocate for responsible opioid prescribing practices, patient responsibilities, and knowledge of use, dependency and abuse.
- Advocate for suicide prevention.
- Organized and arranged conferences including speakers, registration and travel for Coroner Association conferences.
- Initiated and taught ABMDI classes for Idaho State Coroners resulting in the successful ABMDI certification of 21 professionals around the state of Idaho.
- Participate in the Annual Boise Holiday Parade.
- Participate in Garden City Police Department’s Trunk or Treat event at the Boys and Girls Club of America.
- Provided education opportunities for various organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts and Boise schools, with mock crime scene and blood spatter workshops.
- Instructed six week Community class “Role of the Coroner, to include Forensics and Investigations
Dotti’s Education

M.A. Criminology/Criminal Justice Administration
Completed in 2013
Recipient, Presidents list
GPA 3.89

B.A. Criminal Justice Administration & Anthropology (m)
Completed, May 2010
Recipient, Presidents list, Deans List Awards
Recipient, Academic Scholarships
GPA 3.70