Fallen NYPD Hero Laid To Rest, Police Announce Traffic Delays

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Southampton Town Police told the public to expect traffic delays as wake and funeral services for fallen New York City Police Detective Brian Simonsen take place Monday through Wednesday in Hampton Bays.

On Monday and Tuesday, motorists should expect delays on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays for the wake services; on Monday the delays are expected from 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. and on Tuesday, from 1 p.m. through 10 p.m., police said.

On Wednesday, there will be several road closures and parking restrictions in Hampton Bays. Motorists are asked to avoid the area along Montauk Highway east and west-bound during the hours of 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. for funeral services. Montauk Highway at Flanders Road, or New York State Route 24, to Old Riverhead Road will be closed.

The following are parking restrictions and road closures for Wednesday, Feb. 20:

There will be No Parking from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

- Montauk Highway from Flanders Rd., New York State Route 24 to Canoe Place Rd.

- Squiretown Rd. from Montauk Highway to Old Riverhead Rd.

- Ponquogue Ave. from Montak Highway to Good Ground Rd.

- Springville Rd. from Montauk Highway to Good Ground Rd.

The following roadways will be closed from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m.:

- Montauk Highway from Flanders Rd., or New York State Route 24, to Old Riverhead Rd.

- Squiretown Rd. from Montauk Highway to Old Riverhead Rd.

- Ponquogue Ave. from Montauk Highway to Good Ground Rd.

- Springville Rd. from Montauk Highway to Good Ground Rd.

The community has paid heartfelt tribute, lining the streets of Hampton Bays with blue and black ribbons as mourners pay their final respects to a fallen hero.

A GoFundMe page, "Help HB Honor NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen" was created to raise funds for the ribbons.

Funeral services in Hampton Bays take place from Monday through Wednesday 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.

On Wednesday, 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.

Det. Simonsen, of Calverton, was brought home in a funeral cortege 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.

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

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 photo courtesy GoFundMe.