Officer Simmons:
Posted on 02/15/2008 10:40:58 AM PST by Bubba Ho-Tep
AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS TRY to make sense of the San Fernando Valley bloodbath that took the lives of SWAT Officer Randal Simmons and three members of the gunman's family, and badly wounded Officer James Veenstra, word is emerging that Simmons probably stepped into the bullet's path to save the badly injured Veenstra seconds after he went down.
"We believe Jim was hit first, and Randy did his training and moved up to cover Jim, and he was subsequently shot," SWAT Sergeant Chuck Buttitta, one of the supervisors that deadly February 6 night, tells L.A. Weekly. "He acted instinctively, and his instincts come out of his [Christian] beliefs. He is obviously that kind of person and would do anything for others and not hesitate."
The series of events that led to Simmons' fateful decision began at 9 p.m. with a 911 call made by 20-year-old Edgar Rivera, who told operators that he had shot to death his two older brothers and father at their home in the Valley neighborhood of Winnetka.Rivera, a high school dropout with mental-health issues, held off patrol officers for 90 minutes, until officials determined that SWAT should be called in. Buttitta says 18 SWAT officers got the "Code Three" call reporting a hostage incident at 11 p.m.
Simmons and Veenstra were on the SWAT rotation that week, putting them on "standby" for just such an incident. Although 18 SWAT officers were initially called to the scene, Veenstra was one of the first senior officers to arrive. When Buttitta arrived, Veenstra was already scouting out the Rivera property to determine potentially crucial tactical information, such as how many windows and exits were in the house. Simmons showed up a few minutes later.
The scene was incredibly tense, with police almost certain that some survivors remained imperiled inside the Rivera home. Within 15 minutes of the arrival of the full SWAT team, they decided upon an action that SWAT team members seldom face — entering a house at great risk to themselves because the suspect was openly threatening to kill others inside.
It was Veenstra's job — as the assistant team leader — to oversee the entry and manage the team once inside the house. They used a "rapid deployment" strategy that had been devised and later taught by both Simmons and Veenstra following the 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado, during which local police came under severe scrutiny for holding off on a quick assault against two highly armed high school students who were shooting and killing classmates.
Around 12:30 a.m., seven SWAT officers — a team assembled based on who had arrived at the scene first, including Simmons and Veenstra — rushed into the house after tossing in a "flash bang" grenade, a loud and bright diversionary device designed to disorient the suspect.
Buttitta says that fate, traffic on the way to the Valley location, and timing led to Simmons being among the first inside the house. As veteran SWAT officers, Simmons and Veenstra had handled hundreds of hostage negotiations and high-risk home entries and barricade situations. But, says Buttitta, "We never know who will show up at a specific time. Randy could have hit traffic at the time. In this situation, it was [Jim and Randy] who showed up [at the Rivera home] first."
The team hoped to stun the shooter with the flash-bang explosion long enough to gain a tactical advantage. It didn't work as hoped, police suspect, because the shooter was down a hallway and well away from where the device landed.
Simmons was the fourth man through the door. In front of him was Veenstra. About 15 feet inside, the men were forced along an unexpected wall and had to creep down a hallway — at the end of which was gunman Edwin Rivera. Council Member Dennis Zine told the Weekly that the shooter was "lying in wait" for them.
Veenstra almost immediately got shot, in the face and jaw. Police believe Simmons was slightly behind or to the side of Veenstra, and stepped instantly in front of his injured colleague while probably still shooting down the hall. During the exchange of gunfire, Simmons went down, struck in the neck despite heavy protection from a helmet and bulletproof vest. Four other SWAT officers quickly dragged the injured men out of the bloody hallway.
Simmons' relatives told KABC Channel 7 that they had learned from officers who visited with Veenstra in the hospital that he was credit ing Simmons with saving his life by stepping into harm's way the moment Veenstra was shot.
Both officers were taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where Simmons died shortly after 1 a.m. Veenstra is improving and is expected to survive.
Simmons became the first fatality in the history of the elite Special Weapons and Tactics team, which was created in 1967.
Lieutenant Pete Durham, a veteran Metro officer who works the Foothill Division gang-impact team, says of his friend's heroic deed: "I think that the training spurred him to action, but I think it is a conscious decision to put yourself at a higher risk than you are already."
Durham, who had known Simmons 17 years, says, "I would have expected someone like Randy to put himself in between gunfire to protect his partner."
Although some media questioned how crack SWAT members could have been so quickly felled by the troubled Rivera, Police Chief Bill Bratton says that in fact, given the risky decision to enter the house to save the lives of others, the squad had done exactly what "they were supposed to do."
Simmons, the father of two teenagers, was described as a "rock," a tenured member of the crisis-negotiation team, and a mentor for kids. "His work trying to save young children was exemplary," says Bratton.
Simmons founded the mobile Glory Kids Ministries 11 years ago, spending Saturdays at various low-income housing projects, including Imperial Courts in Watts and Scottsdale Housing Community in Carson.
He appeared in a colorful truck that offered a sidewalk church program for kids involving puppet shows, skits, games, songs and dances — all aimed at teaching kids self-esteem and keeping them away from gangs and drugs. Twice a year, Simmons organized big church events and transformed the parking lot of the Glory Christian Fellowship International Church in Carson into a carnival for the kids.
None of his colleagues or friends was surprised to learn that Simmons would protect someone selflessly.
Melissa Franklin, director of communications for his church, says, "It is in line with his character. That was the type of man he was. When one man lays his life down for another, that is true love, and he was someone who exemplified that."
One Simmons colleague tells the Weekly that a respected SWAT officer has already e-mailed Bratton, asking that the chief consider naming the new, multimillion-dollar Parker Center police headquarters under construction downtown after Randal Simmons.
But Franklin, who knew him for six years, says he would never want anyone to make a fuss over him. In reaction to all the press coverage about him, she says, "And even now, thinking about it, I hear Randy saying, 'It is not about me. Stop that!' ... I think he would say, 'You have to help the kids. Are you taking care of the kids?'"
Randal Simmons was an outstanding person. The morning news showed people streaming into the Crenshaw Christian Center for his funeral today.
Live stream video coverage here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-funeral16feb16,0,6279940.story
Prayers for those he left behind. The world is so much emptier since he's been taken away.
Streets of gold...no greater love....you can be SURE the Lord is holding him closely!
Thanks for posting this. I hadn’t seen any information about this incident in the news since it happened, and was wondering how the second officer was doing.
Yep, I need these stories now and again.
Officer Simmons:
NOW, can you please pass me another tissue???
Here you go, plenty of tissues on hand...:(
It isn’t an “antidote.” It doesn’t take care of or make up for all the other SWAT stories. There is no magic cure in one story.
The reason? Because in this story, they used SWAT in the appropriate conditions. They didn’t get the wrong house (my God, in this case how could you have gotten the wrong house?) They didn’t freak out innocent people, damage their house, shoot the dogs, etc. This is a proper situation where SWAT should be deployed to.
That is why I have a lot of respect for these officers. They need to get some armor for their necks (multiple kevlar wrap with some small ceramic plates around the outside, or covering the jugular and front of the throat at least), it’s always been an achilles heel in the protection area.
What a prayer that was, if you are watching the funeral.
Prayers up for Officer Simmons. He sounds like a true hero.
They already have the proper equipment - but they have to use it. East coast -you see the use, not on the West coast.
...type of modern police shield is typically manufactured from advanced synthetics such as kevlar and are designed to be bulletproof, or at least bullet resistant. These are typically employed by specialist police, such as SWAT teams, in high risk entry and siege scenarios, but are also used on a daily basis in many areas of the US.
Here is the take from a SWAT officer in a magazine for SWAT officers,,,
http://www.swatdigest.com/archives/07NOV/eastvswest.html
The funeral is still in progress and they just showed the most amazing photo montage of his life, including a meeting with President Reagan.
There is a live stream link to coverage in post #2.
Thanks
They have full real neck protection now? That’s always been the gap between the vest and the helmet whenever I see SWAT pics. (Apart from the face too.)
No. The gist of the article that ASOC links to is that the East Coast guys use heavy shields that give more protection, but which make it harder to move fast. West Coast guys opt for speed and mobility and don't use the shields.
That’s what I thought. But he was wearing a vest and a helmet. He didn’t have anything protecting his neck. The vest and helmet do squat if they hit you between them. That’s why I’m saying they need to develop an ‘armor-wrap of kevlar and some carbon nanotubes and a top layer of ceramic plates that can wrap around the neck but won’t be as bulky that you can’t turn your head.
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