Escambia County’s top lawman opens up about mentorship, innovation, and why staying in Pensacola was always the right call.—
Chip Simmons didn’t stumble into the sheriff’s seat. He climbed there—deliberately, patiently and with a clear-eyed sense of purpose that has defined every step of a law enforcement career that now spans more than four decades.
- This week, the Escambia County Sheriff earned the top spot on Inweekly’s 2026 Power List, and on the latest episode of We Don’t Color on the Dog, he sat down with me to explain how he got here.
A Ladder Climbed One Rung at a Time
Simmons said his ambition was never about titles — it was about impact.
- “If I make sergeant, man, if I could be a sergeant then I could help these guys more,” he said. “And then if I could be a lieutenant, I could run the whole shift. But if I can be a captain, then I can run the whole patrol division.”
That mindset carried him from patrol officer all the way through the ranks of the Pensacola Police Department, where he served as assistant chief for eight years and later police chief to chief deputy under then-Sheriff David Morgan, and ultimately to the sheriff’s office itself. At every stage, he was watching, absorbing and building toward something larger.
Staying When Others Left
Many of his peers took their skills to higher-paying agencies — the FBI, the DEA, departments in South Florida. Simmons stayed.
- “I just love this community so much,” he said. “I thought, you know what? Let’s take advantage of the opportunities. Let’s take advantage of the chances.”
It’s a decision that has shaped not just his career, but the character of law enforcement in Escambia County. His deep roots here — coaching youth sports, engaging with neighborhoods, understanding local history — give him a situational awareness that no outside hire could replicate.
Mentors, Morgan, and the Making of a Sheriff
Simmons was candid about the people who shaped him. He cited Norman Chapman, John Mathis, Jerry Potts, and Jack Brown as mentors who modeled what principled leadership looks like. He spoke generously about former Sheriff David Morgan, acknowledging that while they didn’t always agree, there were valuable lessons in that relationship, too.
- “We didn’t always see eye to eye, I’ll be honest,” Simmons said. “But there’s a lot of things that I learned from David Morgan.”
That willingness to learn from imperfect situations, rather than dismiss them, speaks to a maturity that has been visible throughout Simmons’ tenure.
The Power List and What It Means
For Simmons, landing at number one wasn’t just an honor. He considers it a reflection of the work his entire agency has put in. He said he plans to hang the issue on his wall. But more telling than the recognition itself is how lightly he wears it. His focus, as it has always been, is on the next problem to solve, the next improvement to make.
- “You don’t get noticed if you’re mediocre,” he said. “I think you have to do a little bit more, push a little bit harder because as Escambia County, we earn that. We deserve that.”
