In the winter of 1992, a veteran officer of the Jackson Police Department, Sergeant Rickey Joe Simmons, age 46, responded to what was dispatched as a burglary in progress. Upon his arrival at the scene, the situation quickly revealed itself to be a volatile domestic dispute. While attempting to de-escalate the conflict and arrest the male subject involved, a struggle broke out. The confrontation turned deadly when the man managed to gain control of Sergeant Simmons'.
357 caliber service revolver.
With the officer's own weapon now in his possession, the man fired, fatally wounding Sergeant Simmons. The suspect fled the scene, leaving the officer to succumb to his injuries on February 4, 1992. The Jackson community and its police force were left to mourn the loss of a dedicated public servant who had been with the department for nearly a quarter of a century. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
The perpetrator's freedom was short-lived, as he was apprehended by law enforcement a short time after the shooting. He was subsequently convicted of murder and burglary for his actions. The court handed down a sentence of life in prison plus an additional 15 years. After decades of incarceration, the man responsible for the death of Sergeant Rickey Joe Simmons died in prison in January of 2022.
