Families of Fallen NYPD Officers Fight to Prevent Possible Profits for Killers

The families of two police officers who were murdered in New York City are taking legal action to block the perpetrators from receiving financial compensation. They are employing the state’s “Son of Sam Law,” which aims to prevent criminals from benefiting financially from their crimes.

Lee Woods was convicted of the 2007 murder of Police Officer Russel Timoshenko, who was just 23 years old at the time. Woods shot Timoshenko during a traffic stop in Brooklyn; Timoshenko survived for five days before passing away. Meanwhile, in 2019, Detective Brian Simonsen was killed after a suspect in Queens pulled a fake gun during a robbery, leading to police gunfire that struck him.

The Timoshenko family is seeking to stop Woods from collecting the $250,000 he was awarded after suing a prison for mistreatment at Auburn Correctional Facility, where he was serving a life sentence. Tatyana Timoshenko, the officer’s mother, expressed her outrage, stating, “I don’t want him to be rewarded even one penny for killing my son.”

Portrait of Leanne Simonsen. — Leanne Simonsen, widow of Detective Brian Simonsen, lost her husband in 2019 during a bank robbery in Queens. She visits his grave on holidays, longing for him to join her in remembrance.

Simonsen was killed when a suspect at a T-Mobile store pulled a fake gun, prompting police outside to fire through the glass, unintentionally wounding him. His widow, Leanne, was appalled to learn about the planned payments to the killers.

Police investigating a shooting outside a T-Mobile store. — Detective Simonsen was killed when a robber brandished a fake gun during a store robbery, leading to police gunfire that resulted in his death.

Both families have filed lawsuits in different courts to prevent the murderers from receiving compensation, citing the law designed to prevent such profiteering. Their attorney argued that these cases exemplify the appropriate application of the ‘Son of Sam Law’ to ensure justice.

Community and police officials comment that such payments could undermine public safety, with some arguing that rewarding killers discourages respect for law and order. The civil cases are ongoing, and the families remain determined to prevent monetary gains for those responsible for their loved ones’ deaths.