Mar 27, 2008 4:43 pm US/Pacific
Local Burger King Fundraiser Helps Simmons' Family
LOS ANGELES
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Officer Simmons' family poses with the owners of a downtown Burger King that raised $85,000 in their benefit.
CBS
The owners of a downtown Los Angeles Burger King Thursday presented the family of slain Los Angeles police SWAT Officer Randy Simmons with checks totaling $85,000, which was collected during a fundraiser at the restaurant a week after his death.
Simmons, 51, was the first and only LAPD SWAT Officer killed in the line of duty. He was shot and killed Feb. 7 in a standoff with a young man who had killed his own father and two brothers inside a home in Winnetka. The man was later killed by other officers.
Larry and Ralph Cimmarusti -- the owners of the Burger King at 700 W. Cesar Chavez Ave. -- held a fundraiser on Feb. 13, agreeing to donate 100 percent of their sales proceeds for the day to Simmons' family.
The money was presented Thursday in a ceremony at the restaurant. Simmons' widow, Lisa, thanked the owners of the restaurant and everyone who contributed.
"And I would like to also thank every individual who came to Burger King that night, and whether you just stood outside and prayed for us or whether you gave a dime or nickel, it doesn't matter," she said. "We just thank you for loving our family and loving Randy so much to where you would contribute to our family. We just thank you. Thank you, thank you."
Simmons' partner, James Veenstra, was also shot in the standoff. Veenstra was struck in the face by a bullet, but survived. Veenstra and Simmons were honored at Wednesday night's Anaheim Ducks hockey game, with Veenstra dropping the ceremonial first puck.
The Los Angeles Police Commission unanimously approved a proposal Tuesday to name the LAPD's new SWAT headquarters for Simmons.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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