RANDAL DAVID SIMMONS (July 22, 1956 - February 7, 2008 )
HUSBAND, FATHER, POLICE OFFICER, CHRISTIAN, TEACHER, HERO
NEWS STORIES
Funeral services that brought together over 10,000 people, black and white, young and old, were held yesterday for Officer Randal D. Simmons, of the Los Angeles Police Department's SWAT team, who was fatally shot Feb. 7 during a standoff at a Winnetka house. The gunman killed three family members before he himself was killed. The first ever LAPD Swat officer to die in the line of duty, Simmons leaves behind a wife and two children. 
The Times' Homicide Report blog and message boards have received more than 600 comments from readers expressing their feelings about Simmons' death. Here is a sampling:
"Randy Simmons was a classmate of mine at [Washington State University]. He was a football hero there, and he is truly a hero in every sense of the word. This city is a tough one to reach, but I can sense through all of the articles and messages posted on L.A. media websites that Randy has truly touched this community. I only saw Randy in person on one occasion since we both graduated from WSU in 1978, and that was New Year's Eve before the WSU-Michigan Rose Bowl game on 1-1-98. It is one of the moments I most cherish from our Rose Bowl experience that year. My thoughts and prayers will always be with his family. Thank you, Randy, for your service to all of us and may God bless you always."
If I had a kid and he told me he wanted to be an officer, I would have told him this is someone you should aspire to be like," said LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who knew Simmons for 15 years. "He was the consummate SWAT officer."
"I couldn't believe it when I saw it," neighbor Mary Bobic said. "When I saw his picture, I said, `Oh, my God!' I told my husband. He said, `He's a good man."' Simmons' father was in the Air Force, and the family lived in Germany and Long Island, N.Y., for a time before relocating to Southern California, said his sister, Valjean Adams of Winona, Minn.
The Times' Homicide Report blog and message boards have received more than 600 comments from readers expressing their feelings about Simmons' death. Here is a sampling:"Randy Simmons was a classmate of mine at [Washington State University]. He was a football hero there, and he is truly a hero in every sense of the word. This city is a tough one to reach, but I can sense through all of the articles and messages posted on L.A. media websites that Randy has truly touched this community. I only saw Randy in person on one occasion since we both graduated from WSU in 1978, and that was New Year's Eve before the WSU-Michigan Rose Bowl game on 1-1-98. It is one of the moments I most cherish from our Rose Bowl experience that year. My thoughts and prayers will always be with his family. Thank you, Randy, for your service to all of us and may God bless you always." If I had a kid and he told me he wanted to be an officer, I would have told him this is someone you should aspire to be like," said LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who knew Simmons for 15 years. "He was the consummate SWAT officer." Aminister, the 51-year-old Simmons was affectionately called "The Deacon" by fellow officers.
Born in San Bernardino, he worked in the LAPD for 27 years and was shot in the line of duty early in his career. He was often seen playing basketball in the front yard of his Rancho Palos Verdes home, or jogging through the neighborhood.
Born in San Bernardino, he worked in the LAPD for 27 years and was shot in the line of duty early in his career. He was often seen playing basketball in the front yard of his Rancho Palos Verdes home, or jogging through the neighborhood.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw it," neighbor Mary Bobic said. "When I saw his picture, I said, `Oh, my God!' I told my husband. He said, `He's a good man."' Simmons' father was in the Air Force, and the family lived in Germany and Long Island, N.Y., for a time before relocating to Southern California, said his sister, Valjean Adams of Winona, Minn.He graduated from Fairfax High School, Adams said, and was a standout athlete who played football at Washington State University, where there was a moment of silence for him Thursday night before the basketball game against UCLA. He had a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys, but didn't quite make it.
While Simmons' weekdays were consumed primarily by police work, his weekends were dedicated to helping youths in seven South Los Angeles housing projects as a minister for the Glory Christian Fellowship church in Carson. When he wasn't doing that, he was coaching his son's football team.