City to Mourn Fallen Officer

The City of Philadelphia will say goodbye to a decorated officer, loving father and husband, as Police Sergeant Timothy Simpson is laid to rest Monday.

Sgt. Simpson died after an alleged impaired driver destroyed his cruiser on November 17. The impact of the accident at Allegheny and Aramingo Avenues in Port Richmond was so strong it threw the officer’s car into a building. He is the fifth Philadelphia Police officer to be killed in the line of duty in the past 13 months.

A viewing for family, friends and the public was held Sunday night at the Givnish Funeral Home in Northeast Philadelphia. Among the mourners were the men and women who once called Timothy Simpson their sergeant. They marched in unison to the viewing to say goodbye one last time.

Simpson’s body will be taken to the Police Administration Building early Monday morning for a funeral procession to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, where one last public viewing and a funeral mass will be held.

A horse drawn caisson with Sgt. Simpson’s casket will leave police headquarters at 8th and Race Streets at 5:00 a.m. It will travel southbound on 8th Street and continue westbound on Arch Street, arriving at the Cathedral at 6:00 a.m.

The public viewing will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Interment will follow the services at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem, Pa.

You will be able to watch the entire service right here on NBCPhiladelphia.com.

A trust fund has been established for Sergeant Simpson's family.  

Checks can be made out to the Timmy Simpson Family Memorial Trust Fund.

It can be mailed to:

Philadelphia Police are advising drivers to avoid the streets surrounding the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday due to congestion.

The funeral procession will necessitate several road closures:

In Philadelphia beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday:

• Vine Street from Logan Circle to I-95 entrance at Broad Street
• I-676 E/B at I-76
• I-95 North at I-676
• Detours will allow for exit at Washington Exit and I-676 West.
• I-676 Westbound exit at Broad Street will be closed for the Cortege.
  

In Bensalem beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday:

• Street Road from I-95 to Hulmeville Road
• Hulmeville Road from Street Road to Gibson Road