Ice skating community mourns officer’s death

The ice skating community in Colorado Springs is mourning the death of Officer Garrett Swasey.

The officer was killed in the Black Friday shooting at Planned Parenthood.

“It broke my heart,” acquaintance Karen Kight said. “As a mom, and having children of similar age to Garrett’s two youngest ones, it just crushes me to know that those kids won’t have their dad anymore.”

Kight knew Swasey in the ’90s, when he coached ice skating in Colorado Springs. He and his ice dancing partner, Christine Fowler, also trained at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The pair went on to become the 1992 U.S. Junior Dance Champions.

“To be a National Junior Dance Champion, it means that you have hit the highest quality in figure skating that you could possibly do,” acquaintance Jo Ann Schneider Farris said.

Kight and Schneider Farris said the ice skating community is tight-knit, and they’ll remember Swasey fondly.

“It doesn’t surprise me either that he was one of the first responders,” Kight said. “He’s one of those people that definitely would reach out to help others.”

U.S. Figure Skating released the following statement:

“The figure skating community mourns the tragic loss of Officer Garrett Swasey, a former U.S. junior ice dance champion. Garrett is remembered as a kind and selfless man who was well-liked by friends and competitors alike. He died in the line of duty serving the community of Colorado Springs, home to U.S. Figure Skating. While we are shocked and saddened by his loss, we are grateful for his serv ice as an off ice r and his impact as a figure skater. Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with his wife, Rachel, and children Elijah and Faith.”