Chip W. Simmons 
Chief of Police

Media Relations is staffed by two people: Chief Chip W. Simmons, who acts as the department's spokesman, and Cindy West, who writes press releases and does other behind-the-scenes duties. Both are on-call around-the-clock to respond to media and public requests for information.

Chief Chip W. Simmons was born in Keflivik, Iceland and moved to Pensacola in 1972 from Key West. In addition to having a master's degree in public administration from Troy State University, Chief Simmons also graduated from the FBI National Academy.

The Pine Forest High School graduate has been with the Pensacola Police Department since 1986 and prior to that was a corrections officer for the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. He has been assigned to Patrol, TAC, Investigations, Field Training, and Vice and Narcotics. Among his special assignments have been SWAT commander and memberships on the Statewide Terrorist Network Group, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and U.S. Customs Blue Lightning Strike Force.

Chief Simmons can be reached by telephone at 850.435.1855 or emailed at CSimmons@ci.pensacola.fl.us.

Cindy West has been with the department since 1995, bringing 19 years of journalism experience with her.

She has a bachelor of arts in communication arts, worked 14 years as a reporter for the Pensacola News Journal, and then another five years free-lancing for Reuters News Service, the Mobile Press-Register, Newsday, and other publications before being hired by the Pensacola Police Department.

She can be reached by telephone at 850.435.1932 or emailed at CEWest@ci.pensacola.fl.us.

The fax number for Media Relations is 850.436.5440.