UCCS officer killed at Planned Parenthood was husband, father and church elder

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has released the identity of its officer who died in a shooting at Planned Parenthood Friday.

Officer Garrett Swasey, 44, was a six-year veteran of the UCCS police force. He was originally from Melrose, Massachusetts, according to WCVB-TV.

Swasey responded to the active shooter situation at 11:50 a.m., minutes after it was first reported.

In addition to being a police officer, Swasey was a husband, father of two children, an elder at his church and a champion ice skater.

Swasey attended Hope Chapel, which is located in the 5700 block of N. Academy Blvd.

The church’s website says that the Swaseys began attending Hope Chapel in 2001. It goes on to say that as an elder, he could be found “sharing his teaching gift as part of the teaching team and sharing his guitar skills on the worship team.”

UCCS officers are sworn, state-certified police officers. Officer Swasey was on duty at the campus and responded in support of Colorado Springs Police.

UCCS says it is working with Officer Swasey’s family and continues to support the Colorado Springs Police Department at the shooting scene