Dozens form human wall at officer’s funeral

Westboro Baptist Church promised to picket Officer Garrett Swasey’s funeral, but members were never seen at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

But the wall of people who promised to block protesters from view were seen at the intersection of Interquest Parkway and Voyager Parkway and that group said it was still vital to be there.

“I wanted to be here, to be a part of this wall, if it wasn’t for that wall, I wouldn’t have the opportunity,” said Ryan Darilek, whose girlfriend was in Planned Parenthood during the Black Friday shooting. “I was in the parking lot. My girlfriend was one of the ones locked in the restroom.”

He said he was grateful for Swasey’s sacrifice, and the sacrifice of countless officers during the shooting.

So he joined the wall of people out of gratitude.

“If it weren’t for the police officers and first responders there, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be there.

They were out in full force. I was able to run to safety as officers were covering fire.”

He didn’t know Officer Swasey, but others who gathered Friday during his funeral did.

“I’d see him at games, we’d interact, he was a nice guy fun to talk to,” said UCCS student Caitlin Eells, who also came to the funeral.

She’s a police officer’s daughter and with that in mind, she knew she had to be there.

“Everybody is blue family,” she said.

If you multiply that sentiment by dozens, you find the motive behind this wall.

“I felt like he made the ultimate sacrifice for our community, why not come out to protect his family and him,” Eells said.

“I felt it was important to come show our support to the officers, especially Officer Swasey and his family,” Darilek said.