Flipping for Randal By Sandy Mazza and Larry Altman, Staff Writers Article Launched: 02/18/2008 11:32:40 PM PST Brad Graverson/Staff Photographer Daily Breeze) He was a familiar face, a regular customer who could often be seen roaming the aisles filling his basket with groceries. So when workers of an Albertsons store in San Pedro heard that LAPD Officer Randal Simmons had been gunned down, they wanted to do something to help. On Monday, they finished a two-day barbecue to raise money for his family. “He’s just a great guy,” said checker Mary Nichols, as she slung burgers and sausage links under a picture of Simmons outside the store on Western Avenue. “I work nights so I saw him every night. I would say `Hi’ to him like any other customer.” Like the other volunteers, Nichols wore a shirt emblazoned with Simmons’ picture on it. Hundreds of people – including many officers and deputies – bought food at $3 to $5 per plate at the Sunday and Monday afternoon barbecues. Food was donated by the store and some of its vendors, said store manager Chrisenda Dalangin. “My associates came in on their day off, they donated their time,” Dalangin said. “He was our neighbor, our customer for 13 to 14 years. It’s so tragic, but he was so important to the community.” She said the store had not counted the proceeds by Monday afternoon. Last Thursday, a Burger King restaurant in downtown Los Angeles offered to donate the day’s proceeds to the Simmons family. So many officers showed up that the line snaked outside the restaurant. The store raised about $100,000 that day. Simmons, 51, lived with his wife, Lisa, and two children in the Eastview section of Rancho Palos Verdes. Simmons, who was buried Friday at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, was killed Feb. 7 in a gunbattle in the San Fernando Valley. The gunman, who killed three members of his family, opened fire on the SWAT team, killing Simmons and seriously wounding his partner, Officer James Veenstra. Simmons spent his weekends mentoring youths and spreading the word of God with his ministry through Glory Christian Fellowship Church in Carson. He also coached teens in the El Segundo Youth Football League while his son was enrolled in the program. Dalangin said they had not yet contacted the Simmons family, but simply wanted to do what they could to help. The fundraiser attracted law enforcement officers and residents alike. Kay Schumacher of San Pedro bought a hamburger on Monday. “It’s a wonderful thing they’re doing. I watched (Simmons’) funeral on TV and cried,” Schumacher said. “It doesn’t really matter whether you know the person or not, it’s sad when something like this happens.” Inglewood police Sgt. Diane Robinson flipped burgers and sausages at the cookout. She said she works night shifts, as Simmons did, and she also stops at the San Pedro grocery store on the way home. “We’re doing this out of respect more than anything,” Robinson said. “We want to give back to the family because he gave so much to the community.” sandy.mazza@dailybreeze.com