Six ECSO Deputies Escort Daughter Of Late Officer In Tate High Homecoming Court

October 26, 2019

Payton Simmons didn’t  have to worry about who would escort her Friday night during the homecoming court presentation at Tate High School.

The senior was escorted by six uniformed Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies, standing in proudly for her father. Payton’s dad, Lt. Ray Simmons of Oak Grove, passed away on November 24, 2007, at the age of 39.

He had been employed with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years, and had served with the Pensacola Police Department and the Gulf Breeze Police Department.

For Friday night game photos and more from the homecoming court, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “Six ECSO Deputies Escort Daughter Of Late Officer In Tate High Homecoming Court”

  1. Joseph McKean on November 2nd, 2019 3:59 pm

    I have nothing but praise for the officers featured in the article. No doubt my praise is extended to all officers in the county. It is refreshing, very refreshing, to see these kind of articles. I am a resident of Seminole County.

    God Bless
    Joseph McKean

  2. Michael Fiore on November 1st, 2019 10:31 am

    What an example of love and compassion the ECSOfficers displayed in supporting this beautiful young woman on such a special occasion. If my heart soars with gladness and appreciation at what these valiant officers’ did to support a fallen comrade’s child, I can only imagine what she and her family experienced. GREAT WORK MEN, AS USUAL!! I say, “usual,” because police and sheriff’s deputies do so much to help others on a daily basis that rarely gets noticed or mentioned. But, rest assured, the VAST majority of us citizens do appreciate all you do to help us and protect us and, please, never lose sight of that! God bless all you fine officers and all the other men and women selflessly serving their communities as LEOs and Fire/Rescue!!

  3. Tracey on October 29th, 2019 11:22 am

    I love my brothers in blue. I may be retired, but I spent 23 1/2 years on Louisville Police Department/ Louisville Metro Police Department. I married a LPD/LMPD Officer. We have two beautiful girls. On November 1 2015 he retired also. On November 22nd he had a pulmonary embolism. On the 27th, the day after Thanksgiving, we lost him. The five days he was in the hospital, my brothers and sister’s in blue stayed with us. They brought us food, slept on hard floors, bought us clothes so we wouldn’t have to leave the hospital, gave us love and support, even brought in Thanksgiving dinner for us. My honor guard officers stood by his casket until the very end. They gave him the service of a hero, which he more than deserved, he was a Marine and a Police Officer. My daughters will always have escorts to their special events. And will have more than enough to walk them down the isle when they get married. The thin blue line is not just a line. When you are part of that thin blue line you have a family of thousands. We love that family. And we thank them.

  4. Janet on October 27th, 2019 1:03 pm

    Thank you ECSD! Way to step up the night. Beautiful picture. Beautiful memory. It’s Ok. These are happy tears. How awesome is this!

  5. Michelle Stone on October 26th, 2019 11:14 pm

    That was truly wonderful. God Bless every one of them. #BackTheBlue

  6. Wanda on October 26th, 2019 8:20 pm

    What a wonderful thing to do. I know she felt so special. ECSO officers are so
    Special and do so many great things for the community.
    Thank you for all that you do. God Bless

  7. Darlene Larkin on October 26th, 2019 5:45 pm

    How wonderful that they are still taking care of their “family” after all of these years!

  8. Waylon Gill on October 26th, 2019 1:13 pm

    Being in Law Enforcement for 24 years and seeing how it’s changed from when I first started, it’s nice to see the Thin Blue Line does still exist, not only between fellow officers but their family as well. Awesome display of true brotherhood. Something your Sheriff can be proud of and something that young lady will cherish for the rest of her life..

  9. Jennifer on October 26th, 2019 11:00 am

    This is just beautiful it makes my heart melt to know that I was Gambia County officers do so much for our community and our children. My family and myself especially Scooby we love all you do and you will always very appreciated thank you

  10. ELW on October 26th, 2019 7:32 am

    Beautiful girl. Thanks from an appreciative admirer of the ECSD. Great moment she will always remember.

  11. Whisperjet on October 26th, 2019 7:31 am

    How great was this. What a nice affair. I graduated Tate in 1963 , and have always been proud of all the good things that come out of that school…Way to go …

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News