Friend of Officer Garrett Swasey says he would want people to forgive the shooter

While the community continues to grieve over the tragedy at Planned Parenthood, many people close to the officer shot and killed are already forgiving the alleged shooter.

They say it’s what Officer Garrett Swasey would have wanted.

“Garrett would be the first to welcome him into heaven when his time comes,” Daryll Bryant said. “That’s just the way Garrett was.”

Bryant became close friends with Swasey eight years ago, when he joined Hope Chapel.

He remembers how quickly the two became friends.

“He was the epitome of a man of integrity. He had the ability to be strong, but at the same time, caring,” Bryant said.

Those traits made him a good police officer and a good father.

“He was the same person in church as he was on the police force and in fatherhood…just always someone you would want to have around,” Bryant said.

Bryant wasn’t surprised to learn his friend was one of the first officers on scene at Planned Parenthood.

“He always put others first and as soon as I heard UCCS officers were there…I thought he could be involved,” he said.

But he never expected to lose his friend to that kind of violence.

“We’re hurt and sad he’s been taken from us but we know Garrett is in a better place,” Bryant explained.

Now, he and the church community are trying to move forward by forgiving the shooter like Swasey would have wanted.