Arapahoe County commissioners appoint Casey Bitting coroner
County commissioners approved Dr. Casey Bitting to succeed Dr. Kelly Lear as coroner effective July 2, filling the unexpired term through Jan. 12, 2027.
Arapahoe County commissioners approved the appointment of Dr. Casey Bitting as county coroner at their June 29 business meeting, according to the meeting packet, with the appointment set to take effect July 2.
The county board summary report identified Bitting as the appointee to fill the unexpired term ending Jan. 12, 2027. The consent-agenda packet included Lear’s retirement letter, Bitting’s CV, testimony logs, a draft compensation MOU and a resolution.
Dr. Kelly Lear’s retirement letter asked that Bitting’s appointment be effective at 12:01 a.m. July 2. The draft MOU set annual compensation at $355,000, prorated through the rest of the term, and said Bitting would reimburse the county $175 for each private post-mortem examination performed for another governmental or private entity.
The available county records reviewed for this story do not show whether commissioners changed the compensation terms before voting, discussed Bitting’s qualifications in open session, or what the final vote tally was. County records list Bitting as coroner/forensic pathologist after the meeting, indicating the transition moved forward.