41 D Man of Valor
The Story of SWAT Officer Randy Simmons
by
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On a fateful night four years ago, a dark cloud fell upon our home, bringing with it a tragic storm, a storm so intense that it would unquestionably test my faith. Randy, my devoted husband of seventeen years, was killed while on duty as a special weapons and tactics team (SWAT) officer. He and his partner, Johnny Verman, were both shot in the face and immediately taken to Northridge Hospital, where Randy was pronounced dead at 12:55 the next morning. Johnny survived the shooting but was critically injured, both emotionally and physically. The tragedy not only shattered my home, but it also left the entire police force distraught and devastated over the loss of their fallen brother.
In the blink of an eye, the remarkable man that I adored was gone, and I was left to somehow pick up the pieces and try to carry on. It was truly a tragedy and a devastating experience, especially because Randy was so loved. But there is far more to this story than just the sadness of Randy’s death; there is the joy of a legacy left by a magnificent human being. In many ways, although he is not here in the flesh, he lives on: through his children, through his work, through his faith, through his service, and through the many people whose lives he touched. While Randy’s life took many twists and turns, it was a life well lived.
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About the Book
Every spouse of a law enforcement officer fears that middle-of-the-night phone call. Author Lisa Simmons has lived that nightmare. On February 7, 2008, her fifty-one-year-old husband Randy Simmons responded to a “SWAT Call-Up” in Winnetka, California, where he was tragically killed at the hands of a deranged man during an eleven-hour hostage rescue standoff that resulted in a quadruple homicide.
In 41 D—Man of Valor Lisa tells the story of her husband’s multifaceted life and of his amazing accomplishments both in and out of uniform. This biography narrates how Randy overcame trials and tribulations, how he put his faith in God, and how he worked tirelessly to better the lives of underprivileged children. It shares the details of his life as a devoted husband, father, mentor, minister, football coach, and twenty-seven-year-veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. It discusses his death as the first in LAPD history of a SWAT officer losing his life in the line of duty, of his most unprecedented funeral, and of the awards he received following his death.
With honesty, candor, and conviction, 41 D—Man of Valor delivers a true story about a man who continues to inspire as much in death as he did in life. It shows how his legacy lives on through the many people he touched.
RANDYSIMMONSSWAT.COM
About the Author
Lisa Simmons s a graduate of UC Santa Barbara and carries on her husband’s legacy through the Randal D. Simmons Outreach Foundation. She has been associated with State Farm Insurance for twenty-five years. Simmons lives with her two children and is remarried to William L. Jones Jr.