Author: Mike Simmons
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End of Watch: The Murder of Officer Amos Cross
Pensacola Police Department, Florida End of Watch Friday, September 12, 1980 An excerpt from the book, “Some Gave All,” coming soon to this website and on Amazon. The Gospel of St. Matthew records Jesus as saying, “If your eye is single, then your whole body will be full of light.” That…
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End of Watch: The Unsolved Murder of Okaloosa Officer Kenneth Baldwin
Okaloosa County Airports Police Department, Florida End of Watch Friday, September 11, 1987 The whole world held its breath for a few days in 1962. The USSR placed missiles less than 100 miles from Key West, Florida, obviously as a threat to the American Nation. The new president, John F. Kennedy,…
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“Eccentric”
The murder of Harold Baird “Eccentric” was the word used to describe him by an acquaintance. “He was smart but eccentric.” He was interesting, that’s for sure. Harold Baird came from money. His father was a high-priced Manhattan lawyer in the early 1900s and generated a lot of money for…
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End of Watch: The Death of Okaloosa County Deputy Michael David Neau
EOW: September 5, 2021 On one hand, Niceville, Florida could be called a sleepy southern town in the Florida panhandle. On the other hand, maybe it’s a growing beautiful town that plays the temporary home to thousands of USAF personnel. Well, which one is it? Yes. Both. Niceville was first…
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End of Watch: The Death of Clint Rigby
Escambia County, Florida District Four Constable – September 4, 1955 In Escambia County, Florida, there existed for many years constables. They had arrest powers, worked throughout the county, and were elected. But…what were they? Why did they exist? Were they necessary? A constable was an elected law officer with arrest…
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End of Watch: The death of Jacksonville police officer (and Pensacola Native) William Kelly
By Mike Simmons The article on Page one in the September 4, 1924, edition of the Pensacola News Journal was entitled, “Jax Officer Dies from Gun Wounds.” The subtitle said, “Motorcycle Policeman Kelly, shot at Jacksonville, was former Pensacolian.” William Kelly not only grew up in Pensacola, but he came…
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Cops and Donuts
By Mike Simmons Okay, I know – cops and donuts go together. I mean, everyone likes donuts, but cops REALLY love them, right? Well, sort of… The joke is that cops take to donuts like a fish takes to a worm. While there is some truth to that – it’s…
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Don’t Try that on an Officer
The story of the guy that brought an axe to a gunfight By Mike Simmons Officer Charles Neel was one of Pensacola’s Finest. In the two years that he had been on the force, he accomplished some amazing tasks. When a man was crushed to death by a streetcar, he…
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“I’m tired of them police!” The brutal murder of Pensacola Police Special Officer Archie Bowman – Friday, August 19, 1938
An excerpt from the book, “Some Gave All,” coming soon. By Mike Simmons Friday, August 19, 1938: Like August usually feels in Pensacola, it was a hot, 91-degree, muggy day. Archie’s thirteen-year-old nephew, Henry Harvey, was riding with him to see what police work was really like. He never expected…
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The Jealous Husband
By Mike Simmons For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. – Proverbs 6:34 December 5, 1911: Joe Wood was headed home at 7:30 in the evening. He lived on the corner of 8th Avenue and Brainerd Streets in Pensacola. He was…