Funeral Services For Slain Officer Scheduled For Friday

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TORRANCE, Calif. -- Hundreds of mourners filed into a Torrance church Thursday for the viewing of Los Angeles police Officer Randy Simmons, who died during a gun battle with a man inside a Winnetka home, becoming the first member of the LAPD's SWAT team killed in the lhe of duty. When the viewing the began at 11 a.m., a line of friends and colleagues already stretched around the building.

"We always felt safe around him, of course," Simmons' friend Kim Collins told KNBC as she and her husband waited to enter Holy Christian Fellowship International Church. "He was always humble. He was quiet. You would never know that he's such a great, great man. He would never boast about it. He just sat quietly. Very nice."

Her husband, Sean, said Simmons was a hero.

"I mean, I tell people all the time the greatest hero in my life is my father and there's not too many people in that mold," he said. "And I found another person in that mold, and it was Randy. There's not too many people in that mold, and Randy, he's another hero of mine now."

The viewing was scheduled to end at 8 p.m. at the church, 225 W. Torrance Blvd. Funeral services for Simmons, who was killed early on Feb. 7, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the Crenshaw Christian Faith Dome, 7901 S. Vermont Ave., with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.

"We're certainly grateful to all those outpourings and expressions of sympathy that we've been receiving, literally from all over the world now," LAPD Chief William Bratton said after attending the viewing. "Our anticipation is tomorrow that this -- reflective of this remarkable young man and the life he led -- will be one of the largest funerals Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also attended the viewing, telling reporters, "It's heartwarming to see so many people who care, who are thankful to the sacrifices that the men and women of the LAPD make every single day."

Simmons, 51, spent more than 20 years on the SWAT team and was active in the community, working with at-risk children and driving them to church services.

Simmons was shot and killed by 20-year-old Edwin Rivera, who gunned down three relatives and then called 911, bringing officers to his home. Simmons, one of several officers who stormed the residence, was shot in the head. Another officer, James Veenstra, 51, was shot in the face but survived and is recovering.

Two other officers suffered minor injuries.

After a lengthy standoff, police fired tear gas into the home and used a battering ram to gain entry. Rivera ran from the home firing a weapon, and he was shot to death by a police sniper, police said.

Simmons is survived by a wife, a 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.

Veenstra has been released from the hospital and is expected to attend Simmons' funeral.

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