Lakewood sergeant remembers Nicholas Graham as a friend, mentor and leader

Lakewood Police Sgt. Zach Cook remembered fallen agent Nicholas Graham as someone who brought people together and wanted his fellow officers to succeed, in a video tribute released Wednesday. Graham, 33, is to be honored with a procession and memorial service Thursday, Nov. 12.

Graham died in the line of duty last week when he was killed during a shootout with a suspect on an RTD bus. The department said it released Cook’s tribute at the request of Graham’s family to celebrate his legacy and convey the impact he had on fellow agents and the Lakewood community.

In the video, Cook described a colleague whose playful personality came with a deep concern for others. Graham could be the goofiest person in a room, Cook recalled, but he also placed importance on teamwork. He wanted everyone around him to have the opportunity to excel and pushed to bring people together.

Cook also urged people to see the person beyond Graham’s police work. He recalled Graham spending time with his child, caring for his wife, gathering with friends and watching sports. Those everyday parts of his life were central to Cook’s remembrance of him as a family man. Cook said he wanted people to remember that “there's somebody behind the badge.”

For the community and the department, Cook described a loss that encompassed several roles: a friend, a mentor and a leader. He said Graham was willing to take on difficult fights on the community’s behalf and would have continued helping young officers develop. Cook remembered him as someone prepared to lead that work and pursue it tirelessly.

Reflecting on the shock of Graham’s death, Cook said there was no way to prepare for such a loss. He spoke about life’s brevity and said his Christian faith gave him hope that he would see Graham again, even as he struggled with the pain of his death.

Cook pledged to keep Graham’s memory present within the department. He said Graham would remain someone officers remembered and discussed, and an example Cook would look to throughout his own remaining time there for inspiration to continue working for good.

Asked how Graham might respond, Cook smiled and imagined him encouraging his colleagues to persevere while also taking time to slow down. “I think he would just tell us to carry on, continue to fight, get through this, slow down, have a beer, it's going to be OK,” he said.