AFD Chaplains mourn loss of murdered father

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Those who knew him best say pastor Greg Griego will be remembered most for his work with troubled people and that's exactly how he spent his final night.

As a former gang member, Griego preached a message of forgiveness and repentance.

The 51-year-old had been a pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque, a Christian church, the county jail. He was also a volunteer chaplain with the Albuquerque Fire Department. Those who knew him there say Griego would want people to pray for his surviving children.

"He was a very special man, a wonderful father, and just to be able to serve alongside him on calls was an honor," said Rebecca Frock a volunteer Chaplain with AFD.

Frock says Griego volunteered with the department since 2008 and she worked with him for the past three years.

"He was a remarkable man, and the thing that really stands out about Greg was he never saw folks as humans see them," Frock said. "He looked a the people that he was serving through the lens that God does."

Frock said Griego used his personal experiences to help everyone he met.

"He struggled in his own life and knew what it was to be forgiven and loved," added Frock. "He extended that forgiveness and love to all those who he served."

AFD chaplains minister to families that have lost homes in fires and they help firefighters.

Frock, who also knew Griego as a preacher at Calvary Church said Griego would preach everywhere, even the grocery store.

Griego was last seen alive at the Albuquerque Rescue Mission in downtown. He had just finished working the night shift before heading home early Saturday morning.

The director of the mission was unavailable for comment Monday.

Officials say about eight months ago Greg Griego stopped volunteering as a chaplain at the county jail and also left his job as a pastor at Calvary, but it's unclear why.