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
Service Record
Incident Details
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James E. Simpson's cause is highlighted.
How James E. Simpson Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. James E. Simpson is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lebanon Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
