Celeste Springer
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Pueblo County Commissioners have chosen Dr. Gregory Grahek as the new coroner.
Grahek will take over the role for the next 15 months, and then an election will be held for residents to decide the next coroner, commissioners say.
Dr. Grahek will need to go to the clerk’s office for fingerprints and undergo a background check. Then, county commissioners say they will officially appoint him and hold a swearing-in ceremony.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Dr. Grahek has worked as a hospitalist, a medical consultant and nurse practitioner. He received his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2020 from Regis University, according to his profile.
“He has a strong medical and administrative acumen, which would help rebuild the office and trust with the community. He has managed his practice and staff with care and compassion for many years,” said Commissioner Paula McPheeters.
Dr. Grahek was considered against four other candidates:
Zolanye McCulley-Bachicha
Justin Dean Youngren
Felicia McQueen
Jessica Martinez
Commissioners said that none of the five candidates owns a funeral home.
In a meeting on Tuesday, Commissioner Miles Lucero expressed some concern over appointing Dr. Grahek, as he runs his own private medical practice, which could take up a lot of his time.
“[Grahek] told me explicitly, time commitment-wise, he would be expecting to spend 40-ish hours a week on the coroner job, 30-ish at his practice,” said Commissioner Lucero.
Commissioner Lucero also said that Dr. Grahek does not have direct experience in death care or death investigation.
KRDO13 Investigates brought these concerns to Dr. Grahek.
“That’s not true, really. I’ve been in medicine for almost 19 years. And the end stage of life is death, so I see it every day. I deal with it,” contended Dr. Grahek.
We also asked Dr. Grahek about balancing both roles.
“I think the reality is, the coroner’s job is not 9 to 5. It’s going to be when the coroner’s needed, and it may be Sunday night at dinner. It may be two in the afternoon on a Tuesday. You know, all through my career, I’ve balanced multiple things,” Dr. Grahek continued, “I think at first it’s going to be a little chaotic, because most of my focus is going to have to be towards the coroner’s office, but things will stabilize.”
Dr. Grahek will replace Brian Cotter, who recently resigned. Cotter was at the center of an investigation after Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) inspectors alleged he had left decomposing bodies in a hidden room of his privately-owned funeral home.
“Mr. Cotter stated that the bodies were awaiting cremation and admitted that some bodies had been in the room for approximately fifteen years,” suspension records say.
Additionally, Cotter allegedly told inspectors that he “may” have given family members of the deceased fake cremated remains.
The CBI is currently investigating the case, but as of publication, Cotter does not face any criminal charges.
The district attorney’s office has asked that families remain patient, as the CBI must complete the investigation before the DA can assess any potential charges.
To read all of our reporting on this case, click here.
Dr. Grahek sent an open letter to Pueblo County residents. You can read the letter below.
Pueblo County Residents,
It is with a grateful heart and much humility that I thank the Pueblo County Board of Commissioners.
As the newly appointed County Coroner (pending a background check), I would like the community to know that I plan to earn your respect and trust in this very important position. It was a rigorous process, and I know the County Commissioners were thoughtful in their final selection. There were some great candidates, including myself, that applied and have a heart to serve the community that I was born and raised in.
A few words kept coming up throughout the process that I internalized. Words like heart, trust, administrative, change and a few others, but those are the ones that stick out to me the most, and it seems as though those are the words resonating with Pueblo County.
As your new Coroner, here are my commitments to you, the Citizens of Pueblo County:
I will always operate with heart. The passion for taking this position is something I feel I have been called to do.
A person just doesn’t know what they don’t know. I will make pragmatic changes based on consultation with the community, staff and County Commissioners. Change for the sake of change isn’t how I operate, but change for the sake of the greater good of the whole is my mission. I hope I’m able to update you all as changes occur, and I further hope that you understand that while change is hard, sometimes it is necessary.
I bring a wealth of administrative skills to this position, as was highlighted in my resume that I submitted for consideration. I plan to put those skills, my education, and my experience to work for the people of Pueblo County, but we are going to have to work together, and communication is the key.
Finally, I’d like to address the word trust. This might be the biggest and most important of the words I have listed. I plan to earn not only your trust, but I want to earn your respect. Over time, I hope that I’m able to prove that my holding this position is just what our community needs at this moment in time.
I look forward to serving you, the citizens of Pueblo County, in the interim. I will work hard, and with all of the sensitive scenarios that will come my way, I will approach them all with empathy and professionalism.
We have work to do in Pueblo County, and I’m here to bring back the honor and trust that this position deserves.
I thank the Pueblo County Commissioners, once again, for their appointment.
Sincerely,
Greg Grahek, DNP
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