Dedicated Instructor, Leader Now Major At Shoal Creek Patrol

With a civil engineering degree in hand, Major Scott Simons didn’t expect his son to change career paths nor to join him at KCPD. His son, Nick, is currently an officer at East Patrol Division.

“We’ll talk about it, and I’ll give him advice, but I try to let him figure it out too,” Simons said. “I think he feels he wants to prove his own path. I’m frequently hearing good things about him, and I’m very proud of what he’s accomplished.”

Simons knows firsthand what it’s like to change your mind. He studied business in college, but it didn’t keep him interested. Instead, it was a criminal justice elective that ignited a passion. Simons would intern, then work security at Worlds of Fun. He enjoyed it, and that led him to KCPD in 1998.

For most of his career, Simons has been an instructor, serving as a Field Training Officer (FTO) who teaches new graduates of the police academy while on patrol. Simons, in fact, was the lead instructor who helped overhaul the instruction.

“We kind of completely redid it, and I’m proud to be part of that,” Simons said. “We need people to help us along the way, to guide us, and teach us. I liked that aspect of it.”

This role prompted Simons’ interest in being a supervisor. First as sergeant, then captain, and now as major. For the last year, Simons served as the major at Central Patrol. This month, he takes over as the major at Shoal Creek Patrol. A new assignment with new responsibilities.

“I’m a hands on kind of guy,” Simons stated. “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 sharpen skills that aid him today as a major. Simons served as KCPD’s city liaison, strengthening the bond with city government and departments. This role gave him deep insight to issues, such as the budget, that affect the department.

“You see a lot more of the police department and how the different aspects need to work together,” Simons explained. “That experience taught me I can go talk to anybody and try to find the commonality of whatever the issue is and figure out how to work together to resolve those issues.”

Simons’ 25th anniversary at KCPD will come this summer, and he acknowledges the support he’s needed from loved ones to serve Kansas City nearly a quarter of a century. It’s a support that he’s now giving with his son also serving.

“I give a lot of thanks to my family knowing I’d have to leave sometimes in the middle of something or miss this or that,” Simons said. “I’ve always been very blessed that mine has always supported me.”