Heroes Among Us Speaker Series - October 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:

Edward M. Rouse, Public Affairs Officer
[email protected]
850-623-3250

Event Date: Thursday October 26th 2017
Place: Pensacola Veteran’s Memorial Park
Time: 6:00pm

The Marine Corps League’s 5th Annual Heroes Among Us Speaker Series-2017 - Guest of Honor – Chief Chip W. Simmons, Chief of Police - City of Pensacola (Ret) with Special Guests – Escambia County Fire Chief Pat Grace and Capt. Walt Viglienzone, US Coast Guard (Ret)

Pensacola, Fla. – The Cpl. J.R. Spears Detachment of the Marine Corps League announces its 5th Annual Heroes Among Us speaker series event First Responders Night for 26 October 2017 to be held at Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park.

Chief Simmons is currently the Chief Deputy with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He previously served as Assistant County Administrator for Escambia County and as Police Chief for the Pensacola Police Department before retiring from the Police Department in August 2015. He began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a corrections officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and was hired by the Pensacola Police Department as an officer in 1986. His assignments have included uniform patrol, investigations, narcotics and SWAT.

Chief Simmons was born at Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland, and moved to Pensacola in 1973 from Key West. The Pine Forest High School graduate has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Pensacola Junior College, 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.

During his law enforcement career Chief Simmons has served as a member of the Statewide Terrorist Network Group, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, the U.S. Customs Blue Lightning Strike Force, and other law enforcement task forces. 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 in 2013 he received the Mayor’s Leadership Award for the city of Pensacola. Additional Special Guest speakers are Escambia Fire Chief Pat Grace and Capt. Walt Viglienzone, US Coast Guard (Ret).

The series, now in its fifth year, is held at 6 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month from May through October. It is presented by the local Marine Corps League, J. R. Spears Detachment 066. Water and light food will be provided; people should bring their own chairs or blankets.

Admission is free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted for the Veterans in Distress Fund to help veterans in need.

Donations for the “Marines in Distress” Fund can be sent to:
Edward Rouse CPA, 6825 Oak Street, Milton, FL 32570
Checks payable to: MCL DETACHMENT 066

MEDIA NOTE: To arrange interviews or for more information, please contact Edward M. Rouse, MCL, POA (850) 393-3507.

About “Heroes Among Us”
The “Heroes among Us” series, founded in 2013, features veterans from all branches of the military service. The goal is to let those people share their experiences with others, civilians and military as well as those on active duty. The events are organized and sponsored by the Marine Corps League, J. R. Spears Detachment 066.

About the Marine Corps League
Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps. This is accomplished by banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service; voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans, and by perpetuating the history of the United States Marine Corps through fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines. The Marine Corps League is a Federally Chartered Veterans Organization open to all honorably discharged veterans and is a recognized tax exempt organization under the IRS code section 501 c (4).

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