After 37 years and nine months in the NSW Police Force, 32 of those years spent in Traffic and Highway Patrol, the senior constable was given the chance to drive home in a restored Mitsubishi Cordia highway patrol car following a farewell morning tea at the station.

“This was a precious occasion for me,” Mr Simmons said. “I’ll miss the things I’ve been doing every day for the past 37 years but I leave with lots of good memories.”

Friends, family and colleagues gathered at the Raymond Terrace station on Thursday morning to thank Mr Simmons for his dedicated service to the police force and community, plus pay tribute to his character.

“John’s a man of resilience, bravery, courage, strength, compassion, support and friendship,” Superintendent Bob Ryan, regional commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, said.

“You’ve left the NSW Police Force with a great lot of friends, a lot memories and the knowledge that you made a difference.”

Also read: 2017 Port Stephens Local Area Command awards held in Raymond Terrace | photos

Mr Simmons was 22 years old when joined the NSW Police Force in April 1980. After graduating he spent time performing general duties in Sydney.

He joined Traffic and Highway in 1986. What was meant to be a short stint to get him out of the city and into the bush instead became a career move. He never left highway patrol. 

“Highway patrol isn’t a job that’s easy to carry out,” Mr Simmons said. “You have to be resilient to people’s reactions.

“I feel like I’ve done my duty. I remember once taking a magistrate from Paddington court through [Kings] Cross to a location for his work and in the process I had a conversation with him, something that’s stuck with me.

“He said: “all you can do day after day is your duty. It can be hard, and people won’t always understand the benefits, but you have to go on”.

“I was paid to do a duty, to enforce the rules of the road, of the land, to the best of my ability. I did that all my career. I really liked the job.”

In 1989 Mr Simmons was promoted to the rank of senior constable.

In 1996 he was stationed in Raymond Terrace. While he was moved from Raymond Terrace to Maitland and back again a number of times during the 90s, Mr Simmons stayed stationed in the area.

His last station before retiring in January 2018 was Raymond Terrace.

During his almost 38 years of service, Mr Simmons was awarded the NSW Police Medal for diligent and ethical service plus a second, third and fourth clasp, a National Medal and first clasp and a National Police Service Medal.

Supt Ryan said the awards were not for long service, but in recognition of Mr Simmons’ dedicated service to the police force.

“He got accolades from many places,” he said. “Probably most importantly for his resilience, courage, his commitment and his compassion.

Supt Ryan presented Mr Simmons a service board on Thursday. Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commander, Superintendent Craig Jackson, also paid tribute to Mr Simmons’ service.

“You’ve bee a really good soldier for us, you’ve been a really good soldier more importantly for the community of Port Stephens and the surrounding area,” he said.

“Your many years of dedicated service was very proactive, very productive as highway patrol officer. You’ve saved countless lives for sure.”

Age, family and taking the opportunity to do things he could not with a full-time job were some of the reasons Mr Simmons said he retired.

“I really enjoyed my job but it was time to retire,” he said. “I found my work exciting and stimulating – on the good days and bad.”

In addition to his role with highway patrol Mr Simmons sat on traffic committees to advise, make decisions and solutions on the local government level.

In this role he worked closely with the Port Stephens, Dungog and Maitland councils and traffic-related organisations.