News
Featured Image
Officer Swasey would 'disagree with the abortion industry,' one of Swasey's co-pastors at his church said.Personhood USA

Nov. 28, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) – Officer Garrett Swasey, the police officer killed during a standoff with a lone gunman at a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs Friday, was reportedly a leading figure in his church who was also pro-life.

Swasey was one of three people killed during the shootout with suspect Robert Lewis Dear. Nine others were injured during the shooting. Dear's motives in the shooting remain unknown.

Officer Swasey was on duty at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs campus when he responded to a call to support Colorado Springs police at around 11:50 am, local time.

Image
Garrett Swasey with his wife Rachel and two children.

The New York Times reports that Swasey spent seven years as co-pastor at Hope Chapel in Colorado Springs.

RELATED: Everything we know about the Planned Parenthood shooter so far

Swasey was married to Rachel Swasey, and had two young children.

“Here’s a guy who worked full time as a police officer, and then gave a great amount of time to his local church and didn’t get a dime for it,” Scott Dontanville, a co-pastor at Swasey's church, told the New York Times.

Dontanville also said that Swasey would “disagree with the abortion industry.”

Swasey was also reportedly a nationally ranked figure skater who had moved to Colorado Springs to train. 

A bio of Swasey and his family on the website of his church states: “Garrett and Rachel began attending Hope Chapel in 2001. Initially drawn by its small size, they have grown to love the fellowship and teaching at Hope Chapel. As they raise their son, Elijah and daughter, Faith, they view the members of the church as their family. Both have been granted a servant’s heart by God, and are a demonstrative evidence of God’s grace to Hope Chapel. 

“Rachel serves behind the scenes leading and watching the little ones in the nursery. Garrett works full time in Law Enforcement and provides oversight to our Care Groups. Additionally, as an elder, you will find him sharing his teaching gift as part of the teaching team and sharing his guitar skills on the worship team.”