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Denver Police Department honors 34-year veteran for Black History…
Robert “Bobby” Simmons was awarded the Trailblazer Award from the Denver Police Museum for being one of the first to achieve major milestones in their careers.
DENVER — The Denver Police Museum recently honored retired Denver Police Officer Robert “Bobby” Simmons with their African American Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes Black officers who were the first to achieve a milestone in their careers.
Simmons decided to apply to the Denver Police Academy after graduating from Manual High School in 1967 and hearing about the department’s goal of recruiting more people of color to fill their ranks.
“They were advertising for young officers, minority officers, to join the police department,” Simmons said. “In the classes right after me, there was a big push. They started in recruiting and a push to hire Black officers in the 70s.”
Simmons was encouraged to join by Denver Police Officer Bill Sailors. Going through the academy, Simmons worked a part-time job during the day and studied at night. He successfully completed the academy training and joined the department in November of 1971. Simmons started his career in District 3 in southeast Denver as a patrolman.
In 1973, he responded to a situation at Safeway at 6th Avenue and Corona Street. Arriving first on the scene, he witnessed gunmen attempt to take two store employees hostage. He exchanged gunfire with the suspects, called for backup and eventually subdued them with the help of his fellow officers. Officer Simmons received a minor gunshot wound in the altercation and was later awarded the Medal of Honor by the Denver Police Department — the first time a Black officer was awarded the prestigious honor.
During his 34-year career, he served as a patrolman, a member of the Special Crime Attack Team (SCAT), High Crime Burglary Unit, Vice Narcotics, Organized Crime Strike Force, Organized Crime Unit, Intelligence Bureau and Metro Agencies Front Range Task Force.
Credit: Denver Police Museum
In 1984, Simmons was assigned to the security team of Mayor Frederico Pena — the first Black officer to hold that position. He said he wouldn’t have had a long career in law enforcement without the support of his wife Karen and his four daughters.
“My family, my wife especially, there was a lot of long hours, and she knew this when we got married, that I would be gone from home,” Simmons said. “It’s good to have a strong lady and a strong family behind you.”
During his time on the job, Simmons mentored other officers of color who were curious about his career path and wanted to follow in his footsteps. With the Trailblazer Award, he joins a legacy of Black officers who served in the department before him.
Credit: Byron Reed
“It’s a great honor to be in the company of the other Trailblazers ahead of me who paved the way that I really admired and happy to be a part of that,” Simmons said. “It didn’t really hit me until several days after what this award meant and it’s something that I will cherish the rest of my life.”
Simmons retired from DPD in November of 2005. Shortly after, he was approached by the Denver Nuggets about leading their traveling security team which he did for 17 years. He traveled with the team throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.