President Obama Praises Slain Officer Garrett Swasey

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While Americans across the country mourn the loss of those killed and wounded in Friday’s Planned Parenthood attack in Colorado, President Barack Obama offered up praise for slain police officer and Melrose native, Garrett Swasey.

“May God bless Officer Garrett Swasey and the Americans he tried to save — and may He grant the rest of us the courage to do the same thing,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

Swasey was one of three people killed in the shooting. Many other innocent victims were injured. He, along with his wife Rachel and their two children, were longtime residents of Melrose.

“This is not normal. We can’t let it become normal. If we truly care about this -- if we’re going to offer up our thoughts and prayers again, for God knows how many times, with a truly clean conscience -- then we have to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them. Period. Enough is enough,” Obama added.

The 44-year-old was active in his community and his church in Colorado. He worked as an officer for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He was a former figure skater.

Melrose Mayor Robert Dolan and Police Chief Michael Lyle remembered Swasey as a kind, dedicated and caring individual.

Melrose will honor Swasey on Friday, Dec. 4 with a moment of silence at “Home for the Holidays.”