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February 7, 2008
– There are amazing people on this planet. From time to
time we think about them - the people who truly put their lives on
the lines not just every day, but multiple times a day every day.
The people who, due to what they do for a living, are at risk of
retaliation even when off duty. The people, like LAPD SWAT
Officer Randall Simmons, who, even while living, literally give
their lives to be there for others.
But even all this was not enough for
Simmons.
I knew Officer Simmons. I met him
not at a crime scene or at a precinct office. Where I knew
Randall Simmons from was a children's hospital called Orthopaedic.
After giving of himself all day every day, Randall - and his fellow
SWAT team members - would go above and beyond to help the disabled
children the hospital helped; the ones with no health insurance and
nowhere else to turn.
Randy and his mates would do things like
run from Bakersfield, California to Las Vegas. For those of
you not familiar with the area, that would be a massive swath of
desert they traversed. One year, they even did it with full
gear and backpacks on, just to accentuate the point that they were
"Running for Kids Who Can't."
You see, Randy wasn't running to show
off or to test his skills. He was running to raise money for
the kids.
For 13 years, Randy served the children
of Los Angeles, even after serving to protect them all day.
Right up through this past December, Randall, and Officer Veenstra,
the officer shot and critically wounded by Randall's side yesterday,
stood side by side handing out toys to the children. Each year
they made possible a toy giveaway that gave many of the children
their only gifts of the holiday season.
Serving wasn't enough. Helping
raise money so disabled children could get the care they needed
wasn't enough. No, beyond that, he went to yet another length
to see that they were happy, playing their Santa and brightening
their holiday season.
As a friend at the hospital told me
today, "Yes, we are really feeling it here... He will be missed for
his strength, gentleness and love of children."
Randall Simmons always had a smile and a
caring that was unmistakable. He would never say no to a
request to visit a terminally ill child or to help out with a
fundraising endeavor.
And he never said no to facing grave
danger to keep the Los Angeles community safe.
Los Angeles has lost more than just a
hero; it has lost a man who was a champion for all in need.
The city will miss his bravery; it will also miss his compassion.
It will miss his service in protection; it will also miss his action
in caring.
The city of Los Angeles has lost a hero.
The children of Los Angeles have lost a champion.
Hopefully, from Officer Simmons'
example, some people can gain an inspiration and let his example be
a light that drives them to look at what it really means to be there
for others, and to follow - at least as much as we normal mortals
can - in his footsteps of service.
You will be missed, Officer Simmons.
Here is
a
link to the official report.
Here is information about contributing
to a
trust fund set up on behalf of his family:
Trust funds were established today
for the family of an LAPD SWAT officer who was shot and killed
during a gunbattle in a Winnetka home, and for another officer
who was seriously injured in the same shootout.
LAPD Officer Randy Simmons, 51, of
Rancho Palos Verdes, died in the early morning gunfight. Officer
James Veenstra, also 51, was shot in the face but survived.
The trust funds were established at
the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union, and donations can
be made in two ways, the LAPD reported.
Donations can be made by visiting
the Web site
www.lapfcu.org and clicking on the red square titled "LAPFCU
Community Corner."
Donations can also be sent to:
-- LAPFCU, Blue Ribbon Trust
Fund/Officer Randal Simmons, Account 2030077-product code S4.12,
16150 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91410;
-- LAPFCU, Blue Ribbon Trust
Fund/Officer James Veenstra, Account 2030077-product code S4.13,
16150 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91410.
For information about the trust
funds, call (877) 695-2732.
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