Nov 24, 2008 11:45 pm US/Eastern
City Says Goodbye To Fallen Police Sergeant
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
For the third time in less than three months, the city of Philadelphia bid a final farewell to a member of the police department killed in the line of duty.
Hundreds gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for the funeral of 24th District Sgt. Timothy Simpson, who was killed in a car crash on November 17.
A horse-drawn caisson led an early morning procession to the Cathedral where many paid their final respects to Sgt. Simpson before funeral services at 11 a.m.
"Rest in peace my friend, you've done all you can do and this city and this police department is a much better place because you chose to follow a long line of service in your family," Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said. "May God bless you and keep you in the palm of his hand."
Ramsey offered some touching remarks about the beloved supervisor who had recently celebrated his 20th year on the force.
"He was an extraordinary individual and one that is going to be missed," Ramsey said.
Prior to the funeral, Ramsey said the loss of a veteran officer was emotionally rough, but the department will move forward.
"It is a difficult time for everyone, for the department, for the family obviously, for the city as a whole," Commissioner Charles Ramsey said. "The men and women of the department will come back, we have to, we have no other options."
Following the viewing and funeral mass, another procession took Sgt. Simpson to his final resting place at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem.
Sgt. Simpson, 46, was responding to a robbery call when he was involved in a crash with a black Camaro at the intersection of Allegheny and Aramingo Avenues at about 10:30 p.m. on November 17.
Rescue crews rushed Simpson to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the other vehicle, 41-year-old William Foster, was on probation at the time of the accident. He is facing third degree murder, vehicular homicide and related charges. He was allegedly under the influence at the time of the crash.
Sgt. Simpson was the fifth Philadelphia Police officer killed in the line of duty in just over a year.
Sgt. Simpson is survived by his wife and four children.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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Slideshow: Funeral Coverage
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