Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard Joseph Simms was stabbed to death inside the state penitentiary by a death row inmate who was attempting to escape.
Guard Simms and another guard were delivering food to all of the death row inmates. The cell doors could be opened but were secured with a chain that prevented them from opening more than 12 inches.
When Guard Simms opened the door, the inmate asked him to place a stool inside the cell. Guard Simms removed the chain and as he bent down to put the stool in the cell, the inmate stabbed him in the neck with a 3-inch knife.
The inmate then ran out of the cell and knocked down another guard. The other guard got up and opened fire on the suspect, striking him in the head twice, killing him. The suspect was scheduled to be executed the following week for a double murder two years earlier.
Guard Simms had served with the Department of Correction for 3 years, and had previously served as an officer with the Nashville Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters, grandson, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-07C92A51- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Simms gave the Tennessee Department of Correction 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Simms.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Joseph Lillard Simms is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tennessee Department of Correction, 11 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Lillard Simms's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Lillard Simms Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Lillard Simms is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Lillard Simms was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Tennessee Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
