KCBD Investigates: Chief medical examiner position open in Lubbock County

LUBBOCK COUNTY, TX (KCBD) - The chief medical examiner's position in Lubbock County has been posted for about a week and will remain open for a month as the search continues to replace outgoing examiner Dr. Sridhar Natarajan.

The KCBD Investigates team has been following up on the situation since 2016 when Natarajan elected to have his salary decreased in order to begin succession planning for the Lubbock County Medical Examiner's Office. The salary decrease allowed Natarajan to reduce the number of medical examiner duties and allow for a smooth transition of leadership.

It was in May of 2016 KCBD learned Natarajan made $450,000 at the beginning of his career in Lubbock and that increased more than $55,000 over the years. The salary amount is more than what other medical examiners in the State of Texas and parts of the country make.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner makes around $386,000, the Harris County medical examiner makes around $313,000, the Bexar County medical examiner makes around $267,000, the Travis County medical examiner makes less than $300,000 and the Tarrant County medical examiner makes around $221,000.

KCBD also learned the medical examiners in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York make less than what the Lubbock County medical examiner.

When Natarajan's salary later dropped, officials with Lubbock County made it known they wanted him to redirect those funds to other staffers within the medical examiner's staff who would be assuming some of his duties.

The KCBD Investigates team will continue to follow this story as the situation evolves. More information can be found out about the medical examiner's position here.

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