Robert Simons
Agency patch
Policeman

Robert Simons

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch February 17, 1909
Age 40
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 3208
The Vigil Panel 23 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Robert Simons was struck and killed by a Reading Railroad freight train while searching the freight yards near South 52nd Street in the Gray's Ferry area of Philadelphia. He and another officer were searching for a man wanted in Wilmington, Delaware, for a stabbing. Detectives in Wilmington believed the man was heading to Philadelphia on a freight train and alerted police to search for him. Policeman Simons and a second officer were both struck by the train. The other officer suffered non-life threatening injuries. Policeman Simons had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Policeman Simons gave the Philadelphia Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Simons.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 17, 1909
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 40
Badge Number 3208
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Robert is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1909, 24 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 119th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman Robert Simons

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch February 17, 1909

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-W

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