Trail Of Blue Tears Welcomes Fallen Hero Home

MATTITUCK, NY — Police cars and firetrucks lined the roadways and highways on Long Island Wednesday night as a trail of blue tears led a fallen hero home.

NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen, of Calverton, was brought home in a procession to the North Fork's DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. As lights flashed and a helicopter flew overhead, police lined Rt. 25, paying their respects to Simonsen, 43, a 19-year NYPD veteran who was killed by friendly fire in the line of duty Tuesday.

Simonsen and a sergeant were shot during the robbery at a T-Mobile store at 91-62 120 St. in Queens at 6:10 p.m., officials said. He was reportedly not meant to be working Tuesday; it was said that, fiercely dedicated, he wanted to continue investigating a series of robberies.

Sgt. Matthew Gorman was wounded as the cops exchanged fire with the alleged robbers, according to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Funeral services have been announced for Simonsen, a former South Jamesport resident and Riverhead High School graduate who lived in Calverton with his wife Leanne.

The family will receive friends on Monday, Feb. 18 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday, February 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday morning, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. All services will be held at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church, located at 31 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, New York 11946. Interment will be at the Jamesport Cemetery following the funeral mass. DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck is assisting the family.

A heartbroken community was cloaked in mourning Wednesday as friends, loved ones and officials remembered "Smiles," a man who dedicated his life to helping others.

Patch lead video, photos by Lisa Finn.