With a civil engineering degree in hand, Major Scott Simons did not expect his son to change careers or join him at the KCPD. His son, Nick, is currently an officer in the East Patrol Division.
“We’ll talk about it and I’ll give him advice, but I try to get him to understand as well,” Simons said. “I think he feels like he wants to prove his own path. I often hear good things about him and am very proud of what he has accomplished.
Simons knows firsthand what it’s like to change your mind. He studied business in college, but that didn’t keep him interested. Instead, he was a criminal justice elective who ignited a passion. Simons would work as an intern, then work security at Worlds of Fun. He liked it and that led him to the KCPD in 1998.
For most of his career, Simons was an instructor, serving as a Field Training Officer (FTO) teaching recent police academy graduates while on patrol. Simons, in fact, was the lead instructor who helped review the instruction.
“We completely redid it and I’m proud to be a part of it,” said Simons. “We need people to help us along the way, to guide and teach us. I liked that aspect.
This role sparked Simons’ interest in being a supervisor. First as a sergeant, then as a captain and now as a major. For the past year, Simons has been a major on Central Patrol. This month he assumes the role of major of the Shoal Creek Patrol. A new assignment with new responsibilities.
“I’m a hands-on guy,” Simons said. “I still like going out on calls and being available to help and interact with the public. There will be challenges and I’m ready.”
One assignment in Simons’ career helped hone the skills that help him as a major today. Simons served as the KCPD’s city liaison, strengthening ties with city government and departments. This role has provided him with in-depth insight into issues, such as budgeting, affecting the department.
“You see a lot more of the police department and how the different aspects have to work together,” Simons explained. “That experience taught me that I can go and talk to anyone and try to find the commonalities of whatever the problem is and figure out how to work together to solve it.”
Simons’ 25th anniversary at the KCPD comes this summer and he recognizes the support he needed from loved ones to serve Kansas City for nearly a quarter century. It is a support that he is now giving with his son who also serves him.
“I give my family a big thank you knowing that sometimes I would have to leave in the middle of something or miss this or that,” Simons said. “I’ve always been very lucky that mine has always supported me.”
