SWAT Officer Randall Simmons’ Funeral
[Guest post by DRJ]
Los Angeles SWAT Officer Randall Simmons was remembered and honored today in a funeral attended by over 10,000 people and broadcast on local TV:
“In an emotional funeral service shared by thousands of mourners — both inside the South L.A. church where it was held and throughout the region where it was carried live on local television — slain SWAT Officer Randal Simmons was praised today as a man of God who is now “patrolling the streets of heaven.”
Simmons, 51, was shot and killed last week during a tense standoff with a San Fernando Valley gunman who already had killed three members of his family. He is the first SWAT officer to be killed in the line of fire in the unit’s nearly 40-year history. The funeral was one of the largest in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department.”
It is a tragedy that Officer Simmons is dead (as noted by Patterico in this post) but I’m glad so many chose to honor his life and memory.
H/T Tired.
— DRJ
After watching the funeral today I considered it an honor to get a glimpse into such a well lived life. This really was man whose service to his family and community reflected great dignity. When a young woman sang Dylan’s ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ it simply moved one to tears. I pray God keep his family enveloped in love as they learn to live without him.
Dana (f0e533) — 2/15/2008 @ 7:42 pmGodspeed, brother. Your courage and faith are an inspiration to all of us. You will be sorely missed.
Mike (e74dd2) — 2/15/2008 @ 10:32 pmNever in my 38 years have I ever been so touched as I am today. I don’t know this Great man but I wish I would have had a chance to have met him and his family. To say “THANK YOU” for everything that he did for all people, especially the children. God bless his family and loved one’s. We all lost a HERO but they lost their Husband, Dad, Brother, Son, Uncle, Friend and Mentor. May GOD BLESS YOU SIMMONS FAMILY!!! He was truly an Angel on Earth. That is something to be proud of!!! Just know that he is watching over you nowand forever. He makes me want to be a better person. There should be more Heros like him.
Tracy in H.B. (63ec53) — 2/15/2008 @ 11:48 pmTo the Simmons family and LAPD family, I had the pleasure of being Randy’s teammate and friend at WSU. Randy was one of the corner stones of classmates we hung out with.
I’m proud to be a brother in blue with Randy. Your husband was a good man and God sent you the right Husband and father for your children. Randy was a good officer and God sent LAPD one of his very best serve in L.A community.
My prayers are with all of you and I will embrace the Christian value that Randy talked about and apply them in my daily life.
Officer Mark Hicks Oakland PD (65986b) — 2/16/2008 @ 9:43 amI did not know Randy Simmons but knowing his mom and sister I can only imagine what a great man he was. He truly was a shining star and helped brighten so many lives. Through such devistation comes a change for the better in so many others lives, as I am sure, Randy would want. Through this elaborate ceremony out of love and respect for this fallen officer, the word of God was able to reach thousands if not millions of people. Randy was a man who touched and changed lives and on his exit he did an outstanding job. We will miss him deeply, family, friends, and strangers alike.
May God bless his family and friends and help carry them through this tumultuous time.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
Natalia (7107cf) — 2/16/2008 @ 7:32 pmI watched the funeral of fallen Officer Randy Simmons, and I got to say,I felt like I was actually attending the service as it touched my heart so much.I can’t imagine what his family is going through! My condolences to the family.I know just by the good things that were said about Randy that he was truly someone I would have liked to have known. The family can rest at ease knowing, that their loved one (Randy Simmons)is truly at home now with his Father in Heaven! May God bless your family and keep you safe.
BONNIE BELL (c47a3a) — 2/17/2008 @ 11:49 amI did not know Officer Randy Simmons but I watched his funeral and its entirety . I wish I had the opporunity to meet him he seem like such a great person through and through. He will be missed but he will be watching down from heaven. God bless his family.
Tina (b96bad) — 2/17/2008 @ 12:35 pmI still cannot get over the beautiful service on Fri. for Officer Simmons. I wish my entire family and friends could have seen it in its entirity. I was glued to the television from 11:00 a.m. untill 6:00 p.m. I truly feel that he was a vessel for our almighty God, because this tragedy has proven that God works in mysterious ways. Although it seems so senselesss and has hurt so many……Randy’s faith, his contributions to help those at risk children and his example of what a father/husband really is and ought to always be, this great loss has opened eyes and hearts….more than one could imagine.
kathy (b4c1fc) — 2/17/2008 @ 7:21 pmI watched the funeral and I was touched by the show of love from everyone who spoke. Randy was a man who obviously lived his life the way Jesus Christ tells us to. What a testimony his life was and certainly someone to pattern ourselves after!
My heart and prayers go out to his beautiful family.
Jacquelyn Pitts (eda95d) — 2/18/2008 @ 6:03 amI did not know Officer Simmons but I was so touched by his life story and the pain and sadness of how his life ended. My heart aches for his family and all who knew and loved him. My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to all of you.
Jackie Smith (56a0a8) — 2/18/2008 @ 12:32 pmJackie
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING BROTHER SIMMONS. WE ATTNEDED THE SAME CHURCH, GLORY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. HE WAS TRULY A MAN OF GOD, AND HE LOVED THE KIDS, HE WAS THE ONE OVER THE GLORY KIDS MINISTRY. HE WILL BE TRULY MISSED, BUT I KNOW HE IS UP IN HEAVEN NOW SMILING DOWN ON US AND WITH THE LORD, PRAISING HIM JUST LIKE HE DID WHILE HE WAS HERE. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY, WIFE, CHILDREN, AND HIS SON LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM. THIS IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW, BUT I KNOW HE IS OK.
RACHEL (8359b5) — 2/18/2008 @ 6:48 pmthis is the first time that i have ever cried after watching a funeral on t.v. when i came home fr0m skool i watched the program from the middle ….. as the son (matthew simmons)gave his speech tears fell from my face.. it was so emotional …. though i didn’t know officer simmons i felt as if did … though many people say i feel what the family is going through i can’t … i don’t no how they feel i understand they are paining but i don’t konw what they are thinking and going through …. i just want to say may god bless their family and may officer simmons rest in peace……………
staci (ad8087) — 2/19/2008 @ 12:56 pmThe loss of Randall Simmons’ life was of great magnitude! And with such a loss came a great awakening in all of us who were fortunate to witness the celebration of his life unfold on Friday. Even through his death, Officer Simmons was able to unite a community and convey the love of God to such a huge audience. He moved me to re-kindle my love of God, family and community, and I pray that many opened their hearts to God. I will never forget this awesome moment of unity. To his wonderful family…I can’t express how grateful I am that your beloved Randy was a part of this world, and I hope you find solace knowing that God had a purpose for him in life and death. God bless you all.
Sandra Aguirre (fbee26) — 2/19/2008 @ 12:58 pmI had the pleasure of attending Fair Fax High school with Randy and he was a very focus person in high school he knew how to give support back then.I will always have him and the family in my prayers.
Johnny A. Harris (460ea9) — 2/19/2008 @ 9:42 pmHis sister is a teacher at my school, after hearing about this tragedy I wondered how she had made it this long without breaking down. After hearing about how good of a person he was I wonder how anyone could take the breath from a man like that. He’s truly a man of god if he would sit and pray with people he arrested. There was no questioning why there were so many people at his funeral he was one of the best and was a true man of god. It is happy to think that he’s walking by the side of jesus and god.
abe (b24530) — 2/21/2008 @ 10:06 amLike so many other posted remarks, I also did not know Randy Simmons, but after learning of his activities within the community, and his overall character, I wish I had the honor of knowing him. He was certainly “larger-than-life”. I think the fact both he and I were 51 yrs. old makes me look at my life and evaluate what I’ve done and what more I can do to make a difference in other peoples’ lives. Ofcr. Randy Simmons has certainly set a very high bar.
Royal (15802f) — 2/21/2008 @ 12:22 pmGood comment, Royal.
DRJ (8b9d41) — 2/21/2008 @ 12:34 pmI OFTEN GO TO HOLY CROSS TO PRAY FOR MY RELATIVES AND TODAY, I FOUND MYSELF AT RANDY SIMMONS GRAVESITE. I THANKED HIM FOR HIS SERVICE TO MY BELOVED CITY OF ANGELS, AND ASKED HIM TO PROTECT AND WATCH OVER US, AS HE WOULD HAVE IF HE WAS STILL HERE. I WAS MOVED BY THE MANY FLOWERS AND WREATHS LEFT FOR HIM, AND I CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY AT THIS TIME, THAT GOD WILL EASE THEIR PAIN IN THEIR HEARTS.
CYNTHIA PRITCHARD (56a0a8) — 2/21/2008 @ 7:02 pmI met Randy many years ago and trained under his eye several times in the past. A truely exceptional man who made a difference. Very few people in this lifetime have the impact that Randy did in so many positive ways on so many. We have all lost a great protector of our way of life and a true warrior in everyway. Men like this are very few and far between. May God love and hold his family in his arms and watch over them for him.
Monte (535b07) — 2/21/2008 @ 8:23 pmI have known Randy Simmons since high school.I competed against him in college while he was at Washington State.He was truely a great person and even a greater human being.
Homer Butler (1bd377) — 7/4/2008 @ 6:34 amHomer Butler UCLA ’80.