Relatives of two NYPD officers killed in separate incidents are taking action to stop their murderers from receiving substantial legal payouts.
The families of Officer Russell Tymoshenko, slain in 2007, and Detective Brian Simonsen, who lost his life in 2019, are filing lawsuits under New York’s “Son of SAM Act.” This law is designed to prevent criminals from profiting from their actions.
Lee Woods was found guilty of murdering Tymoshenko, who was just 23 years old, during a traffic stop in Brooklyn. Tragically, he was among the youngest officers to die in the line of duty.
Now serving a life sentence, Woods is poised to collect $250,000 after suing corrections officers in federal court, claiming mistreatment while incarcerated at Auburn Correctional Facility.
This prospect has outraged Tymoshenko’s mother, who, in response to the loss of her son, left her job in the private sector to join the NYPD’s IT department. She’s determined to make sure Woods doesn’t benefit from his crimes.
“I can’t stand the thought of him getting a dime after killing my son,” said Tatiana Tymoshenko, who moved to the U.S. from Russia when her son was nine. “I had only one child. He was taken from me.”
Tymoshenko and her husband Leonid have filed their suit in Richmond County court, seeking an injunction to prevent Woods from receiving any financial compensation.
Russell Tymoshenko fought for five days in the hospital after the shooting, and his mother recalls her heartbreak when he passed away.
Still wearing a necklace with her son’s badge, she spends months visiting his grave at Moravian cemetery on Staten Island, particularly on holidays. “This is my life,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “We go to his grave because he can’t come to us.”
Detective Simonsen was also killed in the line of duty, shot accidentally by fellow officers during a robbery at a T-Mobile store in Queens.
His killers, Jaguar Freeman and Christopher Ransom, are in line to receive $243,900 and $123,600, respectively. Ransom, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and robbery, is serving 33 years in prison, while Freeman, who was convicted of coordinating the robbery, received a 30-year sentence.
Simonsen’s widow expressed shock and anger upon learning about the potential payouts to the convicted criminals. “It feels like the criminals are being rewarded while the victims are forgotten,” she lamented.
James Moshura, an attorney for the families, has taken the lead in filing these lawsuits. “These cases exemplify the rightful application of the Son of SAM Act,” he stated, ensuring that those responsible for the deaths of these officers won’t profit from their crimes.
Moshura has filed petitions in both Suffolk County, where Simonsen’s widow resides, and Richmond County for the Tymoshenko family, aiming to block the payments.
Scott Munroe, president of the Detective’s Association, voiced concerns about the implications of such payouts for public safety, likening it to undermining the security of society itself.
The attorney representing the convicted individuals did not respond to requests for comment.
