UCCS police force takes welcome emotional break

All 32 members of the police force at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs attended Friday’s funeral of fellow officer Garrett Swasey and will also take a few extra days off.

Swasey was one of three people killed in last week’s shooting on Black Friday.

Around noon Friday, the Colorado Springs police motorcycle unit escorted 25 UCCS officers and seven dispatchers to the funeral at New Life Church. Also in the procession were the hearse transporting Swasey’s body, vehicles carrying his family and other law enforcement officers.

Ken McConnellogue, vice president of communication for the University of Colorado-Denver, said officers from the three other CU campuses, some other college campuses and several city police departments will fill in to patrol the UCCS campus until Monday.

“This has been a trying time for the entire campus,” he said. “We want to give our officers time to relax, step back and take a deep breath.”

Police Chief Doug Abraham, of CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus and commander of the relief force, said the UCCS officers will be paid during their time off.

“They’re receiving administrative time,” he said. “They will not be having to take vacation or sick time. They’ve been told they’re off for the weekend.”

Abraham said around 20 officers are part of the relief force.

“We’ve never done something like this before,” he said. “It came together quickly. It may take us a little longer to respond to calls because we’re not familiar with this campus. But keeping college campuses safe is what we do.”