Officers escort son of comrade killed by COVID to 1st day of school
A month and a half after Metropolitan Police Department officer Jason Swanger died of COVID-19, fellow officers escorted his 9-year-old son to his first day of fourth grade.
Officers accompanied Noah Swanger to Schorr Elementary School early Monday, Metro said in a Twitter post. His father, also a Navy veteran and member of the Nevada National Guard, died June 24.
Video posted by the department showed Noah wearing a white collared shirt and a tie, hugging officers who greeted him outside his home Monday morning.
“I like that tie,” one officer said.
“You know why he’s wearing a tie?,” his mother, Christa Swanger, said from off-camera. “He’s the man of the house now.”
The families of the fallen are not left behind.
Our officers escorted Noah Swanger, 9, to his first day of 4th grade at #SteveSchorrElementary
His dad, Ofc. #JasonSwanger passed away on June 24.
Noah wore a tie today because he’s the man of the house now.💔😭 pic.twitter.com/h3DmsovBcQ— LVMPD (@LVMPD) August 9, 2021
Christa Swanger said Tuesday that her family has been overwhelmed by the support they have received since her husband’s death. The surprise escort was just one of ways that the members of her late husband’s squad have come out to support her and Noah.
“Jason’s partner shares the same birthday as Noah, and he still asked him, ‘Hey buddy. What are we going to do for our birthdays each year?’” Swanger said through tears. “The whole squad came out for Noah’s birthday in their cars with trunks full of presents for him, and Noah just couldn’t believe they were all here to give him presents for his birthday.”
Swanger said her husband and another member of his squad had made plans to take Noah camping for the first time this fall, and the squad member is still planning the trip while awaiting cooler weather. She said squad members also regularly text her to check in and see if they need anything.
“Jason and his partner patrolled our area, so since Noah was on distance learning, anytime they weren’t working a case at lunchtime, they always came by the house and had lunch with Noah,” the mother said. “It was always the highlight of Noah’s day, and until Noah went back to in-person school yesterday, Jason’s partner still came by every day he could to have lunch with Noah.”
Officer Swanger, 41, joined the Metropolitan Police Department in 2013, according to the Injured Police Officers Fund of Las Vegas. He worked in the south central and Enterprise patrol areas, and was a field training officer.
He was at least the fourth Metro employee to die of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. It was unclear whether Swanger received the COVID-19 vaccine before his death.
Metro said in a Twitter post that Noah hopes to be sheriff one day, and Christa Swanger said her son has dreamed of going into law enforcement for years.
“I think with all that’s happened this year, it just makes him want to do it even more,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s just to follow in his dad’s footsteps, but he’s such a kind, loving soul and I think seeing how everybody is towards him makes him want to give back as well.”
Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter. Contact Alexis Ford at aford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexisdford on Twitter.