Phila. Officer Dies After Crash in Port Richmond

KYW Newsradio Team Coverage 

A 20-year veteran of the Philadelpiha police force has been killed in the line of duty.

KYW's John McDevitt reports that Timothy Simpson (above), 46, a sergeant in the 24th District, died not long after his cruiser collided with what police commissioner Charles Ramsey says was a speeding car at the intersection of Aramingo and Allegheny Avenues.

Two men were in the other car. They were taken into custody shortly after the crash.

The impact was so forceful that Simpson's cruiser was pushed across a sidewalk and into the corner of a building. Simspon was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital shortly after 11pm on Monday. Commissioner Ramsey:

"I don't know what to say. This is surreal, to (have so  many officers) die in such a short period of time, it's tragic. So our hearts are out to the family right now and men and women of the 24th District."

Simpson was responding to a robbery call when his cruiser was struck. He was married and a father of three children.

KYW's Mark Abrams reports that Commissioner Ramsey had crossed paths with Sgt. Simpson just hours before his death.  Ramsey says he had stopped by the district headquarters for a meeting:

"There was a seminar being put on and I promised to stop by, and I did. And,he actually walked in for a brief moment, and we had a chance to chat.  And four hours later he’s dead."


KYW's Al Novack reports that Sgt. Simpson had a connection with another 24th District sergeant who died on May 3rd.

Simpson was the patrol partner on the day that Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski was shot and killed while chasing a bank robbery suspect along Aramingo Avenue in Port Richmond.
 
It was Sergeant Simpson who handcuffed Eric Floyd, the alleged suspect, who is charged with Liczbinsk's death (see related stories). 
 

Stay tuned to KYW Newsradio for more details on this developing story.


(Photos from CBS 3)