Sgt. Simpson is laid to rest

Philadelphia police Sgt. Timothy Simpson, the fifth city officer killed in the line of duty over the last 13 months, was laid to rest this afternoon beneath a pine tree at a Bucks County cemetery.

Strains of bagpipes played 'Danny Boy.' There were muffled drum rolls. A honor guard folded the American flag that draped Simpson's burnished casket, with Badge Number 387 etched on top.

Two police officers played 'Taps' and a contingent fired three rifle shots that cut through the cold wind at the Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem. Thousands of police officers lined the road leading to the cemetery plot.

One of the most moving moments was the ceremonial last radio dispatch, in which Simpson's badge was retired. The call included the final moments at 10:33:15 p.m. last Monday when his cruiser was struck.

The radio recording indicates: "No response." Then a voice says: "From your entire police family, we would like to thank you for a job well done and let you know you will be missed and never forgotten."

Earlier in the afternoon, Simpson's casket was carried by a team of pallbearers to a beige hearse waiting outside the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on 18th Street. The hearse lead a 13-mile procession up I-95 to the cemetery.

The 75-minute Mass was simple and solemn. Cardinal Justin Rigali gave the homily. Once again the community gathers to mourn an officer "in anguish and pain," Rigali said.

He stressed the need not to capitulate to evil.

Rigali talked about the city's continuing struggle against violence but noted "our own powers are limited and we shall succeed only with God's help."

Simpson's three children stood out in the vast sea of black and blue uniforms. The children walked down the cathedral aisle and approached Rigali. They bowed and presented the cardinal with the vessels that he would later use at the Consecration.

Mayor Michael Nutter, speaking outside the cathedral just before the hearse pulled away this afternoon said, "I want people to understand how hard this is for the police department, the people of this city and most important, the family."

"I've been to every hospital room, I've seen families broken when they get the news. Parents who lost children, bosses who lost their loved ones, kids who have no mother or father now. It's really hard and it's really painful."

Nutter said he recently attended graduation ceremonies at the Police Academy. "These new graduates have been to three funerals while in the midst of becoming officers."

As to what the city will do to deal with the deaths of so many officers, the mayor said: "We can't control everything. The police, the district attorney, the judges, the probation and parole officers all work hard. We're all just going to have to try to do a little more. We're going to do better and we're going to have a safe city. I believe that."

A few minutes before the Funeral Mass began, Simpson's wife and three children stood one more time before his casket before it was closed.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, speaking first at the funeral at the cathedral, tried to comfort Simpson's family.

"There are no words that can take away the loss of a father and husband" but he urged the children to burn memories in their minds of their father and share those thoughts with their children. He asked the police officers to never forget Sgt. Simpson's legacy and integrity as a Philadelphia police officer.

"Killed in the line of duty. . ..six words you never want to hear," Ramsey told the crowd of 1,500 mourners.

Thousands of police officers from across the region filed into the cathedral to pay their respects and salute Simpson in his casket before the Funeral Mass began.

The officers then left to stand outside of the cathedral to watch the services on a Jumbotron set up to handle the overflow crowd.

A Mass book was handed to visitors that shows Simpson on the front with an overlay photograph of his badge - Number 387.

Inside the pamphlet are excerpts from the Policeman's Prayer along with snapshots of Simpson with his wife and three children.

Simpson, 46, who celebrated his 20th year on the force Nov. 14, was killed last Monday in a car crash while responding to a robbery call. His cruiser was struck on the passenger side by a Chevrolet Camaro driven by William Foster, 41, of Levittown.

Foster, a fugitive with a long history of drug use, has been charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.

Police estimated that - because of the size of the crowd of mourners - as the first car in the motorcade arrived at the cemetery this afternoon, the last car was still be in Center City.

Late this morning the line of mourners for Simpson's viewing stretched two blocks down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the front of the cathedral to 17th Street. In the viewing line were officers from New Jersey and Pennsylvania traveled to Center City to pay their respects.

Sgt. John Jackson, who arrived with six fellow officers from Plymouth Township, has attended the funerals for the five officers killed in the line of duty.

"It wears on you. It's psychologically numbing. I'm here to pay my respects but it's getting old," said Jackson. "If there's such a thing as funeral burnout it's going on here. We just hope that it (deaths of police officers) stops."

Earlier this morning, officers from the 24th District, where Simpson served, placed single-stemmed red roses in six glass vases in front of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. Along 18th Street in front of the Cathedral, the street remained crowded with officers and state troopers who came to pay their respects.

Alexandra Yaremko, 27, of Mayfair, was one of the few civilians in attendance.

"I came to the funeral because it was the right thing to do," Yaremko said. "I have several friends that are cops, and they've had close calls."

John McCreery, 36, of Center City, was on his way to the library when he stopped to watch the Jumbotron displaying live video footage from inside the cathedral. He said he was shocked at the number of funerals in the last year, and is concerned about the safety of his friends in the force.

Police Captain Ben Naish said sadly, "After each line of duty death, we gather in honor our heroes. Today we pay tribute to Sgt. Simpson and celebrate his life."

Simpson's family arrived at the cathedral before 10 a.m. in a motorcade of limousines and SUVs accompanied by a police motorcycle highway patrol. Some 265 police recruits from the Classes of 354 and 355 snapped to attention along Race Street and gave a salute to Simpson's widow, three children and two to three dozen other family members. The family was let in through the side entrance of the Cathedral on Race Street.

The Simpson family proceeded into the church and went to the casket. Some wiped their tears with tissues. The family was later led to the Cathedral Sanctuary and then seated at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, located to the immediate right of the main altar.

Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, said this morning outside the cathderal, "We never dreamed we'd be back here so soon. We almost can't catch our breath," he said of the deaths of the police officers. The last funeral was for Officer Patrick McDonald , who died Sept. 23 after he was shot in North Philadelphia by a wanted felon.

Naish added: "Sometimes you start to feel it's a bad dream that won't end."