Tears Of Blue: NEW YORK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – The funeral for fallen NYPD detective Brian Simonsen was held Wednesday morning at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays, N.Y. Fond memories and precious moments were mentioned as family, friends and fellow officers paid tribute to the fallen detective, who vowed to serve and protect New York City. He ended up losing his life in the process. There was a sea of blue outside the church as thousands of officers lined the streets in solemn tribute. Southampton police estimated that more than 10,000 people could be in attendance. Police officers flooded the small town as Simonsen’s widow and mother made their way into the church. Grey skies above matched the heartache below. Inside, an overflow crowd packed the pews for his final sendoff. NYPD Chaplain Monsignor David Cassato offered words to the fallen detective’s heartbroken widow and mother – also a widow – who buried her second child Wednesday. Watch The Full Funeral Service, Part 1 “I don’t think there’s one word humanly speaking that any of us in this packed church here at St. Rosalie can say that goes to the pain you feel,” he said. The funeral Mass marked the end of more than a week of remembrances for Simonsen, 42, who was killed in the line of duty in a tragic case of friendly fire while responding to a call in Richmond Hills, Queens last Tuesday. Watch The Full Funeral Service, Part 2 Those who knew Simonsen nicknamed the football and baseball player “Smiles” in high school. “Smiles, it’s like he should have been the mayor. He was the glue,” said friend Melissa Weir. “He’s such a good guy, such a larger than life personality, and a stand up guy.” For a GoFundMe to help support Simonsen’s family, click here. The impact of his loss spread far beyond Queens, where he worked all 19 years of his career, or the east end of Long Island, where he called home. His funeral drew officers from around the country and mourners who never got to meet him. “All of these police officers come from all over, it chokes me up,” said Mary Howell of Shirley. “You’re all family, no matter what department your with. And someone in your family passes away, you attend the funeral, if you can,” another man said. Among the hundreds of mourners arriving for Det. Brian Simonsen’s funeral – Lisa Tuzzolo, the widow of Officer Sgt. Paul Tuzzolo. He was shot and killed in the line of duty two years ago. She’s here to offer support and strength to the Simonsen family @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/exU69bm9Yy — Natalie Duddridge (@CityNatalie) February 20, 2019 Among those in attendance for the funeral was Lisa Tuozzolo, widow of Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, who was killed in the line of duty two years ago. “Because the men and women in blue, both here in New York City and across the country, have showed so much love and support for my family when I lost my husband, Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, two years ago. It is the utmost importance and respect that we come and support another line of duty family. They need all of the love and care wrapped around them right now,” she said. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neill also offered their condolences. “Take a moment to appreciate these people, your neighbors who are putting themselves in harm’s way to keep you safe. They will do everything in their power: Put your lives above their own. That’s who they are. They are the very best among us. They are the NYPD. They are Detective Brian Simonsen,” an emotional O’Neill said. “And they will always be there, fighting against violence, against brutality, against cruelty, and against anyone who wishes you harm.” O’Neill promoted Simonsen posthumously to Detective, First Grade. As helicopters flew overhead in the poignant missing man formation, his widow Leanne was presented with the NYPD flag that draped his casket. Simonsen’s partner was brought to tears as he remembered his friend. “I will miss the comfort of having Brian sit across from me in my office. I will miss his infectious laughter and the way he lit up a room. I will miss our daily conversations, whether at work or home. I will miss my partner, but mostly I will miss my friend,” Det. Ricky Waters said. “May God bless you. May God bless Detective Brian Simonsen. And may God bless the NYPD.” “Today, New York City is heartbroken. We have a tremendous sense of loss in our community. A city so large, and yet we’re all united right now in profound grief because we have lost such a good man,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Our hearts go out to the Simonsen family. We can only begin to imagine your pain but we feel at one with you, and we all should feel at one with our men and women who are suffering this loss.” “I ask every New Yorker, when you see a police officer today, offer them condolences as you owuld if they lost a family member, because in fact they have,” de Blasio said. “I think we can all agree that we have lost one of our very best,” de Blasio said. “His oversized personality made you want to be around him. His oversized personality led his friends to call him ‘Smiles.’ My cousin was always smiling, always trying to include everybody in his life,” Simonsen’s cousin Sean Peterson said. “Brian, you lived your life to the fullest. We love and miss you. You were truly one of New York’s Finest.” Throughout this week, mourners paid their respects to the 19-year veteran who was killed last week while responding to a robbery in Richmond Hill, Queens. Authorities say Simonsen was shot by friendly fire, along with Sergeant Matthew Gorman, who attended both days of the wake and the funeral while still healing in a wheelchair. “It’s a tragedy of the deepest, most painful kind. Why him? How could this happen? We will learn every possible fact and draw every appropriate lesson. But it won’t be enough.<doc-sep>A New York City police detective killed by friendly fire while responding to a chaotic robbery scene was hailed at his funeral on Wednesday as a consummate law enforcer with people skills befitting his lifelong nickname: "Smiles." Brian Simonsen , whose posthumous promotion to detective first grade prompted a lengthy standing ovation in a crowded Long Island church, was shot in the chest on Feb. 12 outside of a cellphone store in Queens. He and six other officers opened fire on a robbery suspect who police say was pointing what appeared to be a handgun. Simonsen's partner, Sgt. Matthew Gorman , was hit in the leg and arrived at the funeral in a wheelchair. "The only two people responsible for Brian's death, the only two, are the career criminals" involved in the robbery, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said firmly, delivering a eulogy in a voice sometimes choked with emotion. To the devastated men and women of the 102nd Precinct, where Simonsen worked, and to officers around the city, O'Neill said: "Thank you for your dedication." "Always remember who you are, what you do and why you do it," he said. "Continue to be proud of that" while honoring Simonsen's legacy. In his 19-year career, Simonsen made nearly 600 arrests, most of them for felonies. "He was exceedingly good at his job," said O'Neill, "making connections with the evidence" and also reconnecting crime victims "with the hope that was stolen from them." On the night he was shot, Simonsen should have been off for a union meeting. But he opted to go to work so he could continue tracking a string of recent robberies. "It was never just a job for him," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. The mayor related a story about Simonsen soothing a crime victim who'd fought off an intruder. She cried on his shoulder so long that his shirt was soaked with her tears. On Wednesday, the tears of many were evident at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays. Simonsen and his wife, Leanne, a nurse, lived in Calverton, near the Long Island community where he grew up. Neighborhood kids knew him as "Uncle Brian." "Smiles, he should have been the mayor. He was the glue. ... He just loved everyone," said Melissa Weir, who had known him since high school. "There's a lot of people who are hurting," Weir said outside the church. "Last night, I screamed in my car." "You don't want any of our police to end up that way. But why him? ... A good guy, such a larger-than-life personality," she said. "A stand-up guy."<doc-sep>Hundreds of police officers and other mourners attend the funeral of fallen NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Feb. 20, 2019. Simonsen was killed in a friendly fire shooting in Queens last week, NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen was killed on Feb. 12, 2019. The scene outside the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday morning, before the start of the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen. Police arrive for the funeral of NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday morning. NYPD police officers set up ahead of the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays. NYPD Sgt. Matthew Gorman attends the funeral for NYPD Det Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie on Feb. 20, 2019, in Hampton Bays. The scene outside the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday morning, before the start of the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen. NYPD Sgt. Matthew Gorman attends the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday, in Hampton Bays. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio arrives at Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday. He will deliver remarks at the funeral, the NYPD said. Mourners walk into Church of St. Rosalie Church for the funeral of NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen on Wednesday. NYPD officers from the 102 Precinct mourn during the funeral for Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday in Hampton Bays. NYPD officers walk into the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday, to attend the funeral of Det. Brian Simonsen. Former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton arrives at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays for the funeral of NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen. Joseph Kunkel, of Mineola, and his son, Jordan, 8, salute during the beginning of the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday. The family of NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen arrives at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays for the funeral of Det. Brian Simonsen on Wednesday. Crowds file into the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday for the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen. NYPD officers walk into the Church of St. Rosalie for the funeral of Det. Brian Simonsen on Wednesday. NYPD officers walk past a tree with a blue ribbon as they attend the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday. NYPD officers file into the Church of St. Rosalie to attend the funeral for Det. Brian Simonsen on Wednesday. NYPD officers arrive at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday, to attend the funeral for Det. Brian Simonsen. Family and friends of NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen arrive at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday, to attend the slain officer's funeral. NYPD cadets line up on Montauk Highway before the start of the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday morning. A flag hangs over Montauk Highway in honor of slain NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen. A painting of fallen NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen on display outside Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday, in Hampton Bays. Leanne Simonsen outside Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays after the funeral for her husband NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen on Wednesday. The coffin leaves the funeral for NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie, on Wednesday, in Hampton Bays. NYPD officers carry the coffin of slain Det. Brian Simonsen, as his wife Leanne follows, during the funeral at the Church of St. Rosalie, on Wednesday, in Hampton Bays. The coffin carrying fallen NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen is led out of Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays after his funeral on Wednesday. NYPD officers mourn outside the church during the funeral for Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday in Hampton Bays. NYPD pallbearers carry the coffin of Brian Simonsen during the funeral for Det. Brian Simonsen at the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday. Leanne Simonsen, wife of fallen police officer Brian Simonsen, becomes emotional as she watches her husband's coffin being carried out after the funeral Wednesday. NYPD pallbearers carry the coffin of Brian Simonsen followed by his wife Leanne on Wednesday. Leanne Simonsen is presented the memorial flag in honor of her husband Brian during the funeral at the Church of St. Rosalie on Wednesday in Hampton Bays. NYPD Detective Brian. P. Simonsen's wife Leanne is hugged by police commissioner James O'Neill during the funeral service of her husband at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church. Simonsen was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 12, 2019. NYPD Chaplain Monsignor David Cassato sharing communion with NYPD Detective Brian. P. Simonsen wife Leanne at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church. Simonsen was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 12, 2019. NYPD Detective Brian. P. Simonsen's cousin Suffolk County Police Officer Shawn Petersen kissing Simonsen's wife after sharing his memories during the funeral service at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church. Simonsen was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 12, 2019. NYC mayor Bill de Blasio passing the body of NYPD Detective Brian. P. Simonsen and a large turnout of police officers before sharing his kind words during the funeral service at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church. Simonsen was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 12, 2019. A large turnout with standing room only at the funeral service of NYPD Detective Brian. P. Simonsen at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church. Simonsen was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 12, 2019. Leanne Simonsen, wife of fallen police officer Brian Simonsen, looks on as Simonsen's coffin is led out of Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays on Wednesday.<doc-sep>NYPD honor guard escorts the casket of Det Brian Simonsen to St Rosalie RC Church, 80 miles east of the city in Hampton Bays, LI. His wake will take place over two days and the funeral is planned for Wednesday at 10AM. @NYPDnews #briansimonsen pic.twitter.com/AcLyErwNY1 — N. J. Burkett (@njburkett7) February 18, 2019 HAMPTON BAYS, Long Island (WABC) -- Mourners are gathering for a second day Tuesday to pay their final respects to a fallen hero, NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen, who died in the line of duty.New York City police officers are joining loved ones to bid a final farewell to Simonsen, while a memorial dedicated to the 42-year-old veteran detective grows outside the 102nd Precinct.Simonsen's casket arrived at St. Rosalie Roman Catholic Church in Hampton Bays Monday, escorted by an NYPD honor guard and draped in the green, white and blue flag of the department in which he served.Simonsen, a 19-year veteran, was killed last week by friendly fire while responding to a robbery at a T-Mobile store.Among the mourners Monday night were Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Rep. Peter King, Detectives' Endowment Association President Michael Palladino and NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker, along with scores of officers from the 102nd Precinct.Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O'Neill were present Tuesday, as was the wife of fallen NYPD Officer Weijian Liu, who paid her respects to Simonsen's family. "I want them to know that they are not alone," Sanny Liu said. "We'll always be with them. "O'Neill said there is an internal review underway, and they are looking at the more than 40 gunshots that were fired by seven different officers that night.Simonsen's wake continues Tuesday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at St. Rosalie, with funeral services scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday.Two suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery that led to Simonsen's death. Christopher Ransom , 27, was arraigned Friday from his hospital bed on charges of murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, menacing and robbery. He pleaded not guilty. Jagger Freeman , 25, was arraigned Sunday on charges of murder, robbery, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Police believe he acted as the lookout in the robbery.----------<doc-sep>
EMBED >More News Videos Stacey Sager reports on the NYPD Detective laid to rest on Long Island. HAMPTON BAYS, Long Island (WABC) -- Family, friends and thousands of fellow police officers gathered on Long Island Wednesday to pay their last respects to an NYPD detective who was killed in the line of duty.New York City police officers and those from around the nation joined loved ones to bid a final farewell to Detective Brian Simonsen, whose framed photograph adorned the altar opposite his grieving wife and mother while a memorial dedicated to the 42-year-old veteran detective continues to grow outside the 102nd Precinct.Funerals services were held at St. Rosalie Roman Catholic Church in Hampton Bays, where Simonsen's casket arrived escorted by an NYPD honor guard and draped in the green, white and blue flag of the department in which he served.He was hailed as a consummate law enforcer with people skills befitting his lifelong nickname: "Smiles. "Simonsen, a 19-year veteran, was killed last week by friendly fire while responding to a robbery at a T-Mobile store.His supervisor, NYPD Sergeant Matthew Gorman, was also wounded in the shooting and was among the mourners attending his funeral.Thousands more officers filled spaces outside the church, with many arriving on a special Long Island Rail Road train, while fire trucks held a giant American flag over Montauk Highway. Blue ribbons were tied around lampposts leading to the church.Police Commissioner James O'Neill posthumously promoted Simonsen to detective first grade, prompting the congregation to stand in prolonged applause. "For nearly 19 years at the 102nd Precinct, Brian attended the roll calls, the birthday parties, the coffee runs, the weddings, the baby showers, and the funerals," he said. "We honor Brian's memory when we pick up where he left off. "O'Neill's voice caught as he recalled the details of the robbery call that brought Simonsen to the T-Mobile store and absolved fellow officers who he said will carry their grief with them for the rest of their lives. "The two people responsible for Brian's death, the only two, are the career criminals who decided to go to that store on Tuesday night and commit an armed robbery," O'Neill said.Mayor Bill de Blasio also delivered a eulogy at the funeral. "Today, New York City is heartbroken," he said. "I think we can all agree we have lost one of our very best. "The mayor related a story about Simonsen soothing a crime victim who'd fought off an intruder. She cried on his shoulder so long that his shirt was soaked with her tears. "It was never just a job for him," de Blasio said.Simonsen and his wife, Leanne, a nurse, lived in Calverton, near the Long Island community where he grew up. Neighborhood kids knew him as "Uncle Brian. ""Smiles, he should have been the mayor. He was the glue...He just loved everyone," said Melissa Weir, who had known him since their high school days in Riverhead. "There's a lot of people who are hurting. Last night, I screamed in my car. You don't want any of our police to end up that way. But why him?...A good guy, such a larger-than-life personality. A stand-up guy. "Wakes were held Monday and Tuesday , and one of those in attendance was the widow of fallen NYPD Officer Weijian Liu, who said she wanted to pay her respects to Simonsen's family. "I want them to know that they are not alone," Sanny Liu said. "We'll always be with them. "O'Neill said there is an internal review underway, and they are looking at the more than 40 gunshots that were fired by seven different officers that night.Two suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery that led to Simonsen's death. Christopher Ransom , 27, was arraigned Friday from his hospital bed on charges of murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, menacing and robbery. He pleaded not guilty. Jagger Freeman , 25, was arraigned Sunday on charges of murder, robbery, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Police believe he acted as the lookout in the robbery.----------