“It's A Bargain” Thrift Shop - Orthopaedic Hospital

The children of Orthopædic Hospital
lost of true friend and hero when Los
Angeles Police Officer Randal Simmons
was killed in the line of duty on
February 7, 2008.
Mr. Simmons for many years served as the
liaison for the annual holiday toy drive sponsored
by the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team.
SWAT adopted Orthopædic Hospital
as its community charity in 1994.
Mr. Simmons was a steadfast supporter
of Orthopædic Hospital before
the holiday festivities and always took
time to visit with patients, according
to Mary Schmitz, PhD, president of
the Los Angeles Orthopædic Hospital
Foundation.
“We frequently called on Randy
and his officers whenever we had a
child who needed special encouragement to face a
complex surgery, a difficult health decision or just
needed some confidence to deal with an extended
hospital stay,” she said.
“Randy and his team never said no. When we
told him that the children had a need, he seemingly
dropped everything and responded. They
would appear within a very short time and walk
into the children’s ward in full uniform, but with
totally disarming smiles and gifts of SWAT hats for
the children. Randy, in particular, had an incredible
way of coaxing conversation and laughter out
of even the most reticent child. He had a special
place in his heart for children and it showed.”
Another person who knew Mr. Simmons well
from the SWAT toy drive was Uletas Carter,
administrative assistant, Volunteer Services.
“Randy is forever our hero,” Uletas said. “To all
of us, Randy was truly a wonderful person, much
more than a dedicated SWAT officer, but a gentleman
and a gentle man. To us, Randy would never
turn away his heart from the faces of our children
with cancer nor to anyone who needed him.
“To us, Randy was the one who would always
be the first to help our children, the first to help
organize our hospital toy drives and gift giveaway
in memoriam
Randal Simmons
parties for our children, the first to offer his wonderful
smile — offering us a glimpse of his amazing
spirit. To us, Randy was forever praising his
family, whom he often would speak of as his source
of enduring strength.”
Over the years, SWAT ran the 120-mile Bakerto-Vegas
race in the Mojave Desert in honor of
“the children of Orthopædic Hospital who could
not run.” Officers also pushed several
wheelchair-bound patients in the Los
Angeles Marathon — a thrill the children
will never forget. One of those
children, Johnny Garcia, said that at
first he was afraid of being pushed;
afterwards he felt as if there was nothing
he could not do.
Every holiday season, SWAT assists
Randal Simmons
with the annual toy party for the
patients. The officers pick up donated
toys in their vehicles and help distribute them on
the day of the party.
Occasionally, Mr. Simmons played Santa. Mr.
Simmons and injured fellow officer James Veenstra
were at OH as recently as last December.
Mr. Simmons, 51, was mortally wounded during
a raid in Winnetka after a man had called 911
to report he had killed three family members at his
home. Police entered the home with the belief that
wounded people might be inside and others could
be at risk of being shot and killed. A police sniper
subsequently killed the gunman.
Police credited Mr. Simmons with saving
the life of Ofc. Veenstra, who was shot
first. After Ofc. Veenstra fell, Mr. Simmons
stepped in front of his colleague
and was struck by a single bullet. Mr.
Simmons was the first fatality in the history of the
SWAT team, which was created in 1967.
Mr. Simmons had served with the LAPD for
27 years, 20 of those with SWAT. He had passed
up numerous opportunities for promotion, and to
retire, to remain with the elite unit.
Mr. Simmons is survived by his wife, Lisa; his
son, Matthew, 15; his daughter, Gabrielle, 13; and
his parents and other family members.
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