Chancellor Memo: Officer Garret Swasey Funeral

Dear Campus Community:

Arrangements for Officer Swasey’s Funeral Service have progressed to the point that I am now able to inform you of several key campus events.

• Officer Garret Swasey Funeral, 1 p.m. Friday, December 4, at New Life Church, 11025 Voyager Parkway.
  • Shuttle buses for faculty, staff and students will leave the lower lot of El Pomar Center at 11:20 a.m. and will return to campus immediately after the service.  I ask that faculty please communicate with students about Friday afternoon class expectations and that staff work cooperatively to ensure that there is at least minimal coverage of offices and telephones. For those who wish to watch the service from campus, it will be webcast at http://www.uccs.edu/swaseymemorial.
  • The service will also be streamed in The Lodge for members of the campus community to watch together.  Staff from the counseling office will be available for anyone needing support.
• Processional, a funeral motorcade procession will originate from New Life Church at approximately 2:30 p.m. and will pass by the UCCS campus along Austin Bluffs Parkway at approximately 3:00 p.m.  It is estimated the procession will take 30 minutes or more to pass the campus due to the large number of law enforcement and first responder vehicles in the motorcade.  Austin Bluffs will be closed to traffic and all campus entrances on Austin Bluffs will be blocked. If you are on campus at this time, you are encouraged to gather along Austin Bluffs Parkway to pay tribute to Officer Swasey. A student group plans to hand out American flags to those gathered along the parkway.
• Reception, 4 p.m. Friday, December 4 at Berger Hall. There will be a reception for Officer Swasey’s family, law enforcement and first responders, and the campus community.  You are welcome to attend.
  • The family has suggested donations to the Officer Garrett Swasey Scholarship Fund: https://giving.cu.edu/fund/officer-garrett-swasey-scholarship

• In addition, #UCCS Strong bracelets are available beginning today for a donation of $5.  All proceeds support the Officer Garrett Swasey Scholarship fund.  Bracelets are on sale at the Bookstore, Copy Center, University Center Front Desk, and Food Service retail locations: Café ’65, Clyde’s and Coffee Shops.

We are likely to have many visitors to campus, most of whom are here to support Officer Swasey, his family, and first responders.  From time to time, police officer and war veteran funerals draw individuals who protest. While we have no formal indication of any group planning to present these oppositional views on campus, should it occur, please refrain from having contact with those individuals.
Let’s all honor the memory of Officer Swasey with the character and dignity with which he supported and honored us.
Respectfully,

 

Pam Shockley-Zalabak
Chancellor