Randal Simmons

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Simmons, Randal

Rank: Police Officer III + I

Serial: 22885

Division: Metropolitan

Location: 19828 Welby Way

Date Killed: February 7, 2008

Cause of Death: Gunshot wound

Bio: Officer Randy Simmons was shot and killed as
he and other members of the Los Angeles SWAT Team made entry into a
home at approximately 12:30 am. The team had been deployed to the
home after a suspect inside called 911 and claimed to have murdered
three family members.

As the team entered, the suspect opened fire, striking Officer
Simmons and a second officer. Both officers were immediately
transported to Northridge Medical Center, where Officer Simmons
succumbed to his wounds approximately 30 minutes later.

Officer Simmons had served with the Los Angeles Police Department
for 27 years.

Simmons, a married father of a teenage son and daughter, spent his
off-hours mentoring youth in South Los Angeles -- a sign of how
passionate he was about his work and the community where he had
been a gang officer for years, colleagues said.

Originally from New York, he had been a football player at
Washington State University and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.
But an injury shortened his pro football career and he ended up in
the LAPD police academy, and then as a patrol officer, starting in
1981. He worked Pacific Division, gang units in South Los Angeles,
and then SWAT.

Officer Simmons is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and
three sisters.