Chip W. Simmons

Chip W. Simmons is the current Chief of Police of Pensacola Police Department

Cheif Simmons was born in Keflivik, Iceland, and moved to Pensacola in 1972 from Key West. He has been with the Pensacola Police Department since October 1986 and prior to that was a corrections officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

He was promoted to sergeant in February 1995, to lieutenant in November 1998, to captain in June 2002, to assistant chief in January 2005, and named chief in June 2010.

The Pine Forest High School graduate has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy State University, a master’s degree in public administration from Troy State University and graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.

Chief Simmons has been assigned to Uniform Patrol, Vice & Narcotics, Investigations, and TAC. Among his additional assignments have been a field training officer, SWAT commander and, since 2002, he has been the department’s media spokesman.

He has had memberships on the Statewide Terrorist Network Group, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, U.S. Customs Blue Lightning Strike Force, as well as various youth and community boards.

Chief Simmons has received numerous department awards in recognition of his service to the community, including a Bronze Cross and the Gold Medal of Valor, which is the department’s highest award for heroism.

He also has been named to the Police and Firefighters Heroes Hall of Fame, the Pine Forest High School Alumni Hall of Fame, and received the Volunteer of the Year and Sports Lifetime Achievement awards from the Emerald Coast Youth Sports Association