James E. Simpson
Agency patch
Chief of Police

James E. Simpson

Lebanon Police Department — Lebanon, MO
Cardiac
End of Watch February 7, 1984
Age 51
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
The Vigil Panel 128 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Jim Simpson suffered a fatal heart attack while at the police station at 401 South Jefferson Avenue in Lebanon. He was transported to Breech Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Chief Simpson had served with the Lebanon Police Department for 21 years and had previously served with the Springfield Police Department and St. Louis Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-BD95AC35
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.

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Tributes

21 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Simpson gave the Lebanon Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Lebanon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Simpson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Lebanon, MO
Platform Identity lpd.laclede.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 7, 1984
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Chief of Police James E. Simpson is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MO, 32 of 813 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.9% of this state's fallen.

At Lebanon Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lebanon Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Cardiac
MO — Statewide
32
of 813 officers
3.9% Cardiac
Nationwide
1,306
of 32,508 officers
4% Cardiac

National Cause Distribution

How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James E. Simpson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How James E. Simpson Compares

Age at End of Watch
51
This officer
Avg for Cardiac: 48.6 years
Years of Service
21
This officer
Avg for Cardiac: 15.6 years

When Cardiac Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. James E. Simpson is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
124
Feb
105
Mar
99
Apr
116
May
115
Jun
95
Jul
94
Aug
104
Sep
109
Oct
121
Nov
113
Dec
111

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Lebanon Police Department are honored on badge.nw.