By Mike Simmons
This photo is the only one portraying six Pensacola Police Chiefs. There are over 200 years of law enforcement experience – and a bunch of secrets – in that shot. They are sitting l-r: Drexel P. Caldwell, James Davis. Standing l-r: Bob Cotita, Chip Simmons, Dickey Johnston, Norm Chapman, John Mathis, Wendell Rich, Jerry Potts.
This is a list of the chiefs and their years of service:
Drexel P. Caldwell, February 2, 1962 – July 12, 1974
James Davis, July 12, 1974 – August 22, 1980
Norman Chapman, December 31, 1994 – October 14, 1998
Jerry Potts, October 14, 1998 – March 29, 2002
John Mathis, April 8, 2002 – June 11, 2010
Chip Simmons, March 28, 2011 – July 15, 2015
Thank you, gentlemen, for your service.
I took this photo. I remember how hard we tried to get retired Chief Louis Goss to attend the session but, unfortunately, he was not able to.
Cindy, thank you for telling me. I am sorry I didn’t credit it to you. Chip gave it to me a few years ago.