"Memorial Ride For LAPD Officer Randy Simmons"
Thread started by
Rusty at 02.11.08 - 5:44 pm
"Memorial Ride For LAPD Officer Randy Simmons"
02.16.08
To All,
I am the Red headed LAPD Police Offcier that met you all at the CRANK M.O.B. ride, and it was indeed my pleasure! I hope your ride the other night went well, I chatted with a couple of you at the corner of Westwood and Santa Monica BLVD just before you headed east for the ride.
In light of recent, very sad circumstances, we are having a "Memorial Ride For Randy" and fundraiser for his family. We are asking that all the local clubs, Teams and recreational riders, hold off on thier Saturday rides on this Saturday ( Feb 16th) and join us for this Memorial ride. Even if you can only give your time for the ride that will be a very welcome statement for Randy and Jim's families and the people who's lives they've touched. The ride will start at the LAPD Police Academy 1880 N. Academy Dr. in Elysian Park (across from Dodger Stadium) at 0800 hours and travel to West Valley Station and then on to the location where Randy lost his life to hostile gunfire, where we will do a memorial ceremony and laying of a wreath by the members of the "Police Unity Tour, So. Calif. Chapter". We will then ride back to the academy, round trip will be about 50 miles. There will be plenty of parking up at the Academy. It will be a slow pace so we can keep everyone together and we are hoping to enlist LAPD motors for rolling support.
I am encouraging everyone who rides a bike to join us in remembering Randy, an incredible Police Officer, father and human being.
We are hoping or all former, present and future Police Unity Tour members to be there, as well as the different cycling communities of the Los Angeles area. Please remember that this is a ride to not only morn the tragic loss, but to also celebrate the great and unselfish life that Randy lead! Randy truly gave back to his community in far more ways than can be listed. He gave more of his own time(weekly) in helping people down on thier luck than most spend at a full time job. Ultimately Randy gave his life and that's why we will ride on saturday.
Jim Veenstra has a long road to recovery after being shot in the jaw during the incident. He is a true Warrior and there is NO doubt that he will recover fully! Please keep Randy & Jim's families in your prayers and ride safe. If you would like to read more then please check out www.lapdcyclingteam.com .
Take care and be safe out there. Keep the rubber side down!
Officer Rusty Redican
LAPD West Los Angeles Division / Watch
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I'd really like to do this ride, but I'll be out of town for the whole weekend. Honoring an officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty not only reflects back on those who take the time and effort, but gives an enormous meaning to that sacrifice to the friends and family left behind, who can see the appreciation of the community officer Simmons died to protect.
An 0800 ride has no real conflict with rides planned for later in the evening, other than tired legs, so it would sure be cool if MR could put some bodies in saddles for the ride. Offering our respect now WILL engender a new level of respect from the LAPD on future rides, too, not that we should need any kind of ulterior motive.
My condolences to the family and friends of Officer Simmons.
--sam
ideasculptor02.11.08 - 5:56 pm
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I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY IT WAS A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU GUYZ, AND THAT I FEEL THE PAIN KNOWING THAT WE LOST A GOOD MAN, HOPING FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY TO James Veenstra, NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN OUR SORROW, AND I EVEN FIND IT HARD TO EXPRESS MY SELF. BUT TO TELL THE TRUTH, 0800 IS TO EARLY, BUT I KNOW WORTH IT, YOU GUYZ BE STRONG, AND WE GOT YOUR BACK COVERED.
eddieboyinla02.11.08 - 5:58 pm
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LAPD supports MR we should support them in honoring one of their own,
Post the ride on the callendar.
dannyzuko02.11.08 - 5:59 pm
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SUPPORT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO, MANY TIMES LAPD WAS THERE AND THEY RESPECTED US MR. THEY ALWAYS GAVE US GOOD ADVICE WITHOUT "FLASHLIGHT THERAPY" AND THAT IS A MIRACLE, I HOPE THAT THE FAMILY'S GET A CHANCE TO READ OUR WEBSITE, I'M SURE THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE "FEELINGS" COMING FROM A GROUP LIKE US. AND WE HAVE TO SCRAPE A CREW TOGETHER FOR THIS MEMORIAL RIDE!
eddieboyinla02.11.08 - 6:06 pm
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First of all, I'm sorry to hear of the loss of an officer. Reading the articles about his service to the community makes me want to come out and show my respect for him not only as a police officer, but as a genuine good hearted human being.
This is a nice ride to help get me back into shape since the "winter" has had me riding less longer rides.
I'll be there.
kyber02.11.08 - 6:14 pm
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My condolences to his family and the LAPD for a great loss. Also my prayers go out to Officer Veenstra for a fast recovery. Speaking for myself.. the LAPD is maybe one of the only PD's that have been good to us. I hope a bunch of ridazz make it considering this is an early start.... including myself.
Al
digablesoul02.11.08 - 6:19 pm
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Our condolences to the officer and we are honored by the invitation.
marino02.11.08 - 6:37 pm
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The LAPD has been an essential ally in the movement that we are all a part of. They've been understanding and supportive and they were right there when Nelson went down last friday and needed emergency medical attention. Without them getting our backs, we could not survive or execute these rides so if you have any love for MR show it equally for LAPD on Saturday morning. I know I will even if it gets me out of bed unusually early because we owe it to ourselves and each other to recognize that we've lost one of our own.
Undercover Bob02.11.08 - 6:39 pm
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0800 hours is 8:00AM...yes in the morning.
LAPD has protected us and blocked traffic on our rides. It would be a great gesture for some of us to do the ride. My concern is the early start time may limit our numbers, particularly since Sin and Sprockets will ride the night before.
skd02.11.08 - 7:06 pm
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My condolences go out, I will do everything in my power to make it to this ride.
sketch_austin02.11.08 - 7:23 pm
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Hey Rusty, if you need help postingthe ride let me know. I will help you make a flyer if you'd like. condolences to Randy Simmons' family. I'm sure a lot of Ridazz will come out including myself.
Roadblock02.11.08 - 8:18 pm
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Roadblock:
Rusty already posted the ride.
kyber02.11.08 - 8:24 pm
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I'll be there.
Anyone coming out for the Dark Century training ride III should do this instead. Sounds like a good distance and it's for a good cause.
markedge02.11.08 - 8:52 pm
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"Roadblock:Rusty already posted the ride."
nice. I threw a lil flyer up real quick for it...
Roadblock02.11.08 - 9:15 pm
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I was planning to cycle from Cypress to Pacific Palisades for a 10:30 am art group meeting. I'm going to refigure my route so I can at least start with this ride at the academy.
Probably add miles to my ride, but I'm doing the Dark Century, so that's a good thing!
Creative Thing02.11.08 - 9:36 pm
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My condolences to his family and the LAPD for the lost of not only a great officer, but a wonderful human being. Thank you for considering us to ride along with you and your boys Rusty. I would join you but I made previous comments to go to the Salton Sea. I hope for a speedy recovery for officer Veenstra too.
LAPD has shown the ridazz here alot of respect and tolerance. We hope we can offer just as much if not more in return.
Peace
User102.11.08 - 9:48 pm
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great idea rusty! i'll be there for sure.
VixObs02.12.08 - 3:59 am
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The proposed route:
Exit the academy, down Stadium Way to Riverside.
Lt on Riverside and out through Griffith Park.
Rt. on Victory(crosses over the 5 before travel town)
Lt. on Riverside
Riverside all the way to Van Nuys Blvd.
Rt. on Van Nuys to the Federal Building Plaza at Van Nuys Sta.
15 min. break
Exit back on to Van Nuys Blvd.
Rt. to Victory Blvd.
Lt on Victory Blvd.
Victory Blvd. to Wilbur Ave.(Just passed Reseda Blvd.)
Rt. Turn on Wilbur Ave.to West Valey Station.
30 Mins. w/Ceremony.
Returning the same route. This is where it will get tricky, getting back up to the academy. My thought would be to go around on Riverside to Broadway and in from Solano. It won't be pretty no matter what. But I think that is the best way.
Thanks for all your thoughts and support Guys & Gals, it means alot!
Rusty
Rusty02.12.08 - 7:58 am
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Assuming i'm over my bronchitis, i'll be there. I've also posted Rusty's ride info on the Aids LifeCycle message boards and the Roadbike Review forums.
stevo402.12.08 - 8:36 am
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someone should post this on bikeboom, i would but dont know how,
dannyzuko02.12.08 - 8:43 am
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I'll be in SF this weekend so I can't make it but my thoughts go out to everyone, and I'm sure there will be a good showing for the ride.
seanbonner02.12.08 - 11:03 am
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Ride ON, Randy, Ride ON!
adrian02.12.08 - 1:34 pm
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yo..im gunna try and make it out there...Im not that great at waking up at 5am to make it out to Dodger Stadium from the 805 but its worth it...Just wondering if there was anyway I could rep MR and show our respect to LAPD during the ride...any ideas?
dl124502.14.08 - 12:28 am
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I like this route. I have to disagree with you, I think the way back will be a beautiful ride.
Maybe the participants of this ride, that can't ride more then the way to Winnetka, can have some family members or friends pick them up. I know my Pops can only go so far these days, so hopefully we will make it to Van Nuys. Don't know if you could possibly arrange some explorer buses and truck to take those folks that can't, back to the start.
I'm looking forward to this ride. to be part of the community coming together like this. Thanks for having this memorial ride. My condolences go to Officer Simmon's family, friend, and loved ones.
sexy02.14.08 - 12:19 pm
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RB and i were posting on the Watts Tower ride thread and RB suggested about possibly taking the Metro from the Valley to downtown after the ceremony so we would be back in time for that ride. Agent Orange also posted the route for all of us to download so we could catch up with the ride if necessary. I'm sure that would work for a lot of others who weren't up for the long ride.
stevo402.14.08 - 12:24 pm
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You know what would be amazing?
If the LAPD gave a fraction of the amount of attention and energy to injured and killed cyclists as you cyclists are giving the LAPD. I'd even be happy when cyclists involved in auto-bike collisions are not considered guilty till proven innocent (Jack, Orlando, Megan; first examples that come to mind).
Alas, I am an optimist. Maybe some of you cop-lovers can talk to them during the ride about this?
bike punk02.15.08 - 10:54 am
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i hear ya but i also believe in tact.
if it's appropriate, maybe someone will bring certain topics up, but first and foremost it's a memorial ride, not a lobby-the-cops ride.
trekkie02.15.08 - 11:30 am
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Is there going to be a meet up spot for all MR riders? maybe 7:45 or so a certain spot at the academy? what if we all had a helium balloon on the back of our bikes? Most markets that have a floral dept. will have helium tanks...just a thought.
barleye02.15.08 - 12:27 pm
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I sent an email this morning to KTLA while watching the coverage of the service and just got confirmation that KTLA will be mentioning/reporting on the ride so hopefully they'll help get the word out and more people will show up. Certainly the Burger King fundraiser yesterday had a big turnout.
stevo402.15.08 - 12:29 pm
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We should be easy to find Brad, just look for the riders with bags under our eyes.
stevo402.15.08 - 12:32 pm
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ALC Team Midnight Ridazz is meeting up at Sunset/Vermont station 7AM to ride to Elysian Park.
trekkie02.15.08 - 12:54 pm
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"Alas, I am an optimist. Maybe some of you cop-lovers can talk to them during the ride about this?"
you make a great point. consider that the very act of showing up for this ride is huge. we wont have to talk to anyone, the officers will simply see our actions and remember that we were there for one of their fallen.... and hopefully they will return the favor next time one of us falls.....
Roadblock02.15.08 - 2:59 pm
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I got a suggestion. why not just show up for the ride, either because you want to ride, or you want to memorialize this fallen officer.
I hope nobody is going with some ulterior motives. This ride is for a person who died. Love cops, hate cops doesn't matter, let people grieve someone that they care for who passed in violent manner.
Please don't go to this if, you are expecting some sort of respect in return.
sexy02.15.08 - 3:40 pm
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non-sense.
please DO go, even if it's for a "selfish" reason, and represent Midnight Ridazz and our respect for the police. there is no person on earth who does not have ulterior motives. few if any of us knew Randy Simmons and Rusty knows that, but by showing respect to this fallen officer we will earn respect in return and there is nothnig wrong with that. mutual respect goes a long way. if the world ran on this belief... well...
Roadblock02.15.08 - 4:17 pm
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look for me and say hi...i'll have a red heart shaped balloon up over the back of my motobecane...
alicestrong02.15.08 - 7:17 pm
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is there an estimated ride time? id love to go but i have a 2pm appointment...
EVILon2WHEELS02.15.08 - 7:24 pm
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My condolences to Officer Simmons' family and my respects to the Department. I should be there tomorrow morning.
OverTheHill02.15.08 - 9:24 pm
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My condolences to the family of officer Simmons and best wishes for the recovery of officer Veenstra. I'm coming up from San Diego and will try to be on time.
Drew02.15.08 - 9:51 pm
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I have an ulterior motive. After being involved in LE for 15 years, I know what it takes to make a good cop and Randy was obviously one of them. My motive is to help show the cops who may not be as exemplary as Randy that respect is a two way street.
Jeronimo02.16.08 - 5:56 am
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Well, I couldn't make a 50 mile ride (especially bringing my 60-lb. military bike). But I did do half of it. Was a lot of fun to ride during the day with a full police escort the whole time. Good people. Good conversations. Nice memorial speech. All in all, an enjoyable day for a noble cause.
If you didn't come, you missed a cool and unique riding experience.
MikeyWalsh02.16.08 - 1:34 pm
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KABC TV did a piece on the ride.
feelingrandy gave 'em a lovely sound bite.
...film at 11.
two wheels good02.16.08 - 6:10 pm
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hey thatwas definitely a unique experience. you really got a feel for the crowd. the LAPD bycicling scene so to speak. the ride was surprisingly similar to a midnight ridazz. except the officers were mostly dressed in lycra with really nice bikes. I made friends with an LAPD officer name d John who is a training captain (I think ) at the academy. he knew Randy when Randy was a rookie and kept in touch with him. John was from the Los Feliz area born and raised and he patroled the area too when he was younger. Very cool person he was. I actually enjoyed talking to him. everyone was bicycle aware and friendly. funny too that the escorts blared their sirens and had to cow riders out of the left lane. just like a Ridazz (tm) ride.
I passed on the idea of making stop sign advisory. he thought it was a good idea. what city was that the law in again??
Roadblock02.16.08 - 7:07 pm
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I couldn't go, 8am is when I go to sleep...
How many ridazz went?
Brandothedj02.16.08 - 8:13 pm
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I spied Roadblock and feelingrandy riding by the camera on KTLA's newscast...
two wheels good02.16.08 - 10:10 pm
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There were 14 of us representing! I loved riding for 18-20 miles straight without having to stop for a red light or a stop sign. I asked one of the Bike cops about Rusty but he was evidently pretty sick and couldn't make it. He said that Rusty is pretty hardcore into cycling and exercise and that it must have been bad for him to miss this event.
Here are the pictures i took today:
LAPD Memorial Ride
stevo402.16.08 - 10:27 pm
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Nice shots Creative. Love the one of Mark on the bike path. And we actually had at least 1 more than 14 people. I forgot about Alice who missed the group shot.
stevo402.16.08 - 10:32 pm
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Where was Alice when that pic was taken?
Definitely a unique experience. It was nice to see such a variety of cyclists from all walks of cycling life come together.
RB, did the LA TImes reporter Jeff catch up wiht you? I forgot to ask. He asked me a few questions and I gave Ridazz the Plugzz for directing my attention to the ride.
After y'all got off of the Red Line it got a little weird. Nothing Creative Thing and I couldn't handle though. Some people's kids andd all of that jive. It was nice down at Watts Towers.
Jeronimo02.16.08 - 10:47 pm
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I spoke to Jeff, the LA Times reporter when i got back to the Police Academy parking lot and filled him in our group. He's also an ALC rider so we had some connections. He was very interested in the Midnight Ridazz and i gave him an overview about the different rides that are put on. He is definitely going to come out on some of the rides.
stevo402.16.08 - 11:06 pm
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Nice seeing you guys and gals out there. Good speeches at the west valley station and you could see all different departments... sheriff, culver city, and others that just joined the ride on way... that wanted to help pay tribute to one of their/our own.
Oh... good interview Randy... check it!!
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5962679
the video is mixed with pictures so look for the icon. 2nd pic to the left.
digablesoul02.17.08 - 7:58 am
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yeah where was alice during the group shot? feeling camera shy but I got over it later and jumped in when creative thing shot roadblock and i leaned in. i was being busy the goodwill ambassador from bikeforums.net, too...
alicestrong02.17.08 - 8:15 am
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Oh... thanks for the company back... OvertheHill... much appreciated!!
digablesoul02.17.08 - 11:23 am
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..anybody know the name of the woman wearing pink Rapha?
alicestrong02.18.08 - 8:04 am
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That's Randy. She got to speak on tv and is a fellow Team Midnight Ridazz member and a regular on the MR rides. She rocked!
stevo402.18.08 - 8:22 am
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