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Here’s How Colorado Springs Honored The Police Officer Killed During The Planned Parenthood Shooting

By: The Federalist Staff
4 min read

Colorado Springs community members honor the victims of the shooting that took place Friday at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

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Colorado Springs residents honored the police officer who was killed in the line of duty on Friday during the shooting at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

Police officer Garrett Swasey was killed during a five-hour standoff between the alleged shooter and law enforcement. Swasey, 44 years old, was a husband to Rachel and father of two children, Elijah, 10 years old, and Faith, 6 years old.

Elijah will turn 11 on Sunday.

garrett swasey
Photo via Hope Chapel’s website.

Garrett Swasey was an elder at Hope Chapel, a church in Colorado Springs, where he also played guitar for worship services. He was a nationally ranked ice dancer and had served on the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs police force for six years. He was reportedly pro-life, and had spoken out against the abortion industry, but on Friday, he voluntarily rushed to help individuals being held hostage at Planned Parenthood.

In his last sermon, which is available for listening here, Swasey spoke of bringing glory to God by one’s actions. Swasey said:

Our objective is not to bring glory to ourselves but to bring glory to God. How? By transforming our lives through the gospel, apart from that it can’t be done, not in our own strength.

Everything we have comes from the Lord and everything we have should glorify the Lord. And everything we need is provided by God because Christ is sufficient.

The names of the other two victims, who have been identified as civilians, will not be released until Monday, after the autopsy has been completed. Nine others were injured during the standoff, but are reportedly in stable condition and expected to survive.

In response to officer Swasey’s death, community members have been honoring his life and death. Locals placed flowers and notes at the scene of the shooting on Saturday.

A candlelight vigil was held Saturday evening at UCCS to honor Swasey’s life and death. More than 500 people filled the gym where the vigil was held. According to reports, Swasey did not have to respond to the shooting, but he rushed to the scene as soon as he heard the news. He was one of the first officers to respond yesterday and was shot soon after he arrived on the scene.

“There was no way any of us could have kept him here yesterday during the tragedy,” UCCS Police Chief Brian McPike said.

Earlier Saturday evening, UCCS police officers lined up on the basketball court to observe a moment of silence before two basketball games in honor of their fellow officer. Swasey is the first UCCS officer to have been shot in the line of duty, according to The Gazette.

The UCCS mountain lion statue is covered with candles and flowers.

A memorial fund has been set up to raise money for the Swasey family. At the time of publication, over $62,000 had been raised.

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