“Professional, responsive, creative, diligent and smart – with expertise that goes unmatched. In parallel, her skills for forensics and investigations are exceptional and unique.”
Jill Spriggs, Global Forensic Solutions
Kim Gin started her career in the death investigation field as a Deputy Coroner / Medicolegal Death Investigator in 2001 at the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. She investigated many different types of deaths during her career and was quickly drawn to the identification processes surrounding unidentified decedents and bringing closure to the families she served.
She was promoted to Supervising Deputy Coroner in 2012 and appointed to Coroner in 2014. While serving as the Coroner for Sacramento County, she introduced the ANDE Rapid DNA technology into the identification process for mass fatality victims during the 2018 Butte County Camp Fire which became the first major incident in the United States where Rapid DNA was used for identifying disaster victims. In 2019, she used Rapid DNA technology to identify 34 disaster victims in the 2019 Santa Barbara County Conception Boat Fire. The Conception Boat Fire identifications marked the second time Rapid DNA was used to identify disaster victims in the United States and the first time the technology was used from the first day of a mass event. All 34 victims were recovered and identified within ten days of the incident with the last victim located from the scene on day ten. Both incidents resulted in the faster identification of victims and has become the industry standard for disaster victim identification for many Coroner and Medical Examiner Offices throughout the United States.
She also currently serves as a technical assessor and subject matter expert on Medicolegal Death Investigation assessments for ISO 17025/17020 accreditations for ANAB.
She received her master’s degree in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven and her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama – Birmingham. She has taught criminal justice classes for the University of Phoenix and Everest University and currently teaches Mass Fatality Management classes for the California Office of Emergency Services and California State Peace Officers Standards and Training.
She has served on the California State Coroner’s Association Executive Board since 2014.
She has published multiple articles and presented at many conferences throughout the United States on disaster victim identification and the use of Rapid DNA. She hosted a three-day course for California Agencies in 2020 on Mass Fatality and the use of Rapid DNA for identification. She has also written a chapter on Mass Fatality Morgue Management in a textbook that is scheduled for publication in 2023.
Conception Boat Fire - 2019
California Camp Fire - 2018
As an Assistant Chief with the Law Enforcement Branch of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), I coordinate the state’s response to mass fatality incidents. During Kim’s tenure at Sacramento County Coroner, she assisted on incidents within a 12-county region including Sacramento and surrounding counties. During COVID, Kim developed strong cooperative relationships with area hospitals and mortuaries to address the need for decedent storage.
In addition, Kim personally coordinated the decedent identification operations for the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County. This fire is currently the deadliest fire in California history, with 85 lives lost. Kim, and her staff at Sacramento Coroner, used a combination of technologies including odontology, anthropology, and fingerprints to identify these remains. She also successfully implemented Rapid DNA identification technology, a first in California for this type of deployment.
During the Camp Fire, Kim recognized the need for additional mass fatality response training for local government. Kim campaigned for funding and was successful in obtaining an appropriation in the state budget for this training, which was coordinated by Cal OES. Several classes were developed and presented statewide. Kim presented training in Identification techniques, Family Assistance Centers, mass fatality initial response and mass fatality incidents from an Executive perspective.
In 2019, Cal OES deployed Kim and another staff member from Sacramento County to Santa Barbara in support of the Conception Dive Boat fire incident, which resulted in 34 deaths. Kim was able to positively identify 33 of the 34 decedents within one week. The final decedent identification was delayed by a delay in the decedent’s recovery. In addition to her efforts in decedent identification, Kim was able to offer suggestions assisting Santa Barbara in both the technical operations and the management of the incident.
On a personal note, I have found that Kim is very capable and accessible. She has always been a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend her for any position in the Coroner / Medical Examiner field.
Dennis Smithson, Assistant Chief
Governor's Office of Emergency Services - Law Enforcement Branch
State Coroners Mutual Aid Coordinator
