The words "it takes a village" or, rather, a hamlet, were never more true than in Hampton Bays this week, as an entire community of residents, business owners, volunteers and town officials worked hand in hand and and opened their hearts to welcome about 20,000 mourners as NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen was laid to rest.
Simonsen, 43, of Calverton, a 19-year NYPD veteran, was killed by friendly fire in the line of duty last week; he and a sergeant were shot during a robbery at a T-Mobile store in Queens — and thousands turned out for his wake Monday and Tuesday and funeral service Wednesday at the Church of St. Rosalie on E. Montauk Highway.
Preparing for an veritable sea of blue, 20,000 strong, is no mean feat when the hamlet of Hampton Bays itself has a population of about 13,603, according to recent statistics reported by suburbanstats.org.