Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Charles Simms was shot and killed by a man he was attempting to serve a warrant on for vandalism on Church Street in Xenia. On Friday, July 10, 1925, Officer Simms went to a residence to arrest a suspect on a warrant for failing to pay a board bill. The man resisted arrest and ran from the house, turning and firing on the officer. All four rounds fired struck Officer Simms, with one round piercing his heart. The suspect escaped from the scene but was found at approximately 3:15 a.m. the next morning, hiding in the water of the Little Miami River. Members of the Ohio National Guard fired 40-50 rounds into the water from two machine guns that they carried with them, but the suspect still remained hidden in the water. Several hours later, the suspect came up in front of two members of the search team and was taken into custody. The 42-year-old suspect was charged and convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. He died in prison on September 15, 1925, from acute cardiac dilation. Officer Simms had served with the Xenia Police Department for 15 years. He was survived by his wife. He is buried in the Cherry Grove Cemetery, Green County, Ohio.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-A62F7E98- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Simms gave the Xenia Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Xenia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Simms.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Charles Simms Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Xenia Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Simms Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Charles Simms Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Simms Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Simms Jr. was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Xenia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
