NYC Officer Killed by gunfire (Blue on Blue)

Detective Brian Simonsen was shot and killed while responding to a robbery at a cell phone store at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and 120th Street in the Richmond Hill section of the city.

Detective Simonsen and his Sergeant were canvassing on an unrelated case when they heard a call for a robbery in progress. They responded to the store where they encountered a subject and attempted to apprehend him. As other patrol officers responded to the scene both detectives, who were in plainclothes, were struck by friendly fire as the suspect pointed what was later determined to be a fake gun at responding officers.

Detective Simonsen succumbed to his wounds. The second detective was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.

The suspect was also shot and wounded.

Detective Simonsen was assigned to the 102nd Precinct Detective Squad. He had served with the New York City Police Department for 19 years.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/23969-detective-brian-simonsen

I usually don't like to post things in regards to ODMP incidents however I like to think situations like this are completely unavoidable. I don't like to be too quick to judge as I wasn't there.

For CCW holders and Off Duty Officers who carry regularly please practice good identification techniques. In both CCW classes and on the LE Ranges I teach people what to expect when LE arrives and what I think are best practices for ID so that law abiding citizens or off duty cops are not shot.

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

For CCW holders and Off Duty Officers who carry regularly please practice good identification techniques. In both CCW classes and on the LE Ranges I teach people what to expect when LE arrives and what I think are best practices for ID so that law abiding citizens or off duty cops are not shot.

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This type of situation has always been in the forefront of my mind with consideration to a non-uniformed good guy with a firearm during a bad situation.

This case is very tragic for all involved but is part if the inherent risks present in todays society.

When those CCW badges came out like ten years ago I thought they were the dumbest thing ever. Now they seem very reasonable.

30 years and the last class I attended with a block on dealing with identifying and reacting as armed plain clothes LE or citizen still has no really good way of preventing this from happening. It just tells me that this type of tragedy will continue to happen. Bad situation for everyone involved.

Be safe.

Kew Gardens, Queens

He was one of my nephews partners. The world is getting crazier every day.

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Originally Posted by Irving

When those CCW badges came out like ten years ago I thought they were the dumbest thing ever. Now they seem very reasonable.

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I was thinking the same thing. There's a chance LE may see you as a reduced threat long enough for them to figure out the details.

I hesitate to respond here and derail this from a man's death, neither do I like keyboard commamdoing these, but the argument that this was not preventable is not very well founded based on the information at hand.

1. the uniformed officer shot 3 people when one person pointed a gun, that is poor marksmanship but giving the uniformed officer the benefit of the doubt, maybe the detectives had also drawn. The article does not specify.

2. Did the uniform know that plainclothes officers were also responding or on scene? The responding detectives had radio communication (per the article), they should have told dispatch that they were responding. Is there any designation for them being plainclothes? Is it practical and reasonable to modify their call sign to notify dispatch and responding uniformed officers that a plainclothes is also involved? If informed with an augmented call sign did dispatch relay that info to responding officers? Is there already such a policy that was not used?

3. the detectives likely had badges so irving's comment about ccw badges would not have helped but what about those "ridiculous" ccw sashes that belt deployed? could one of those have helped save a life? Orange reflective vests might look dumb but sure help people see you.

This is a tragedy for many, but learning from it and attempting to prevent it is possible as this sort of thing has happened all too often and should be addressed.

Training in a virtual reality system would help some. It is a building you go into and the trainers throw multiple scenarios at you. It uses lasers and large screens. I'm not sure if NYPD has one of these. Another sad story this is.

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Originally Posted by BushMasterBoy

Training in a virtual reality system would help some. It is a building you go into and the trainers throw multiple scenarios at you. It uses lasers and large screens. I'm not sure if NYPD has one of these. Another sad story this is.

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NYPD has them as do most agencies and large departments. Most if not all LE get judgemental shooting training. Some is video based and a lot is force on force utilizing simunitions. Gone are the days when you could say you weren’t hit. Good hits sting and anything solid leaves a paint marking. It isn’t that people aren’t trying to address the problems, but people make mistakes. One or two mistakes are all that are needed to forge the chain of tragedy.

We are all one mistake away from being the victim of tragedy, and that mistake maybe made by someone other than you.

Be safe.