Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Simms was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing Rogers Avenue near Barling at 2055 hours. He was on patrol when he stopped to assist a disabled motorist. He had activated his emergency lights and walked across the street to the car. When he finished with the motorist he was walking back to his patrol car when a car struck him. He was knocked into the path of another car and was killed instantly.
Survivors
Patrolman Simms had been with the agency for over two years and was survived by his wife, daughter, son, mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-154CE33C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Billy. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Simms gave the Fort Smith Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Smith community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Simms.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Billy Wayne Simms is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AR, 92 of 372 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.3 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Fort Smith Police Department, 2 of 12 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Billy Wayne Simms's cause is highlighted.
How Billy Wayne Simms Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Wayne Simms is highlighted in Apr.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Fort Smith Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
