Obituary of Donald R. Simon

Donald R. Simon Chief of Police (ret) Chief Simon passed away on January 3, 2010 in Colorado Springs Colorado. He was 82. Don was a native of Southern Wisconsin, born in Newville on April 13th, 1927. In 1944 Don graduated from Edgerton High School. That same year he joined the Navy and served in the Asiatic Pacific area and was honorably discharged in 1948. Don performed in the law enforcement arena for over 35 years. Starting his career in 1948 with the Conservation Department, he worked three years as a seasonal game warden and game manager assistant. He joined the Rock county Sheriff�s Department July 1, 1951. He was promoted through the ranks from Deputy Officer to Identification Officer to Detective Sergeant. In 1958 Simon attended the FBI National Academy in Washington D.C and graduated as Vice President of his class. During the course of this training, Don received several personal letters of commendation from former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover for his outstanding achievements in the law enforcement field. One such commendation was given to him and his department for an article entitled �Firearms Effectiveness on Automobiles� which was published internationally in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. As a result, the Article received such high acclaim it was subsequently, on request, published in Spanish for distribution in South America. In 1964, Don was appointed a Special Agent in the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), office of the Attorney General. In June 1966, he advanced to Chief Special Agent and in 1967 was named Director of the Intelligence Bureau of the DCI. In 1968 he was appointed Acting Administrator of the entire Division of Criminal Investigation by the Attorney General, Bronson LaFollette. He remained in that capacity and was subsequently named to the same post by Attorney General Robert Warren. In 1969 Simon was named by Warren as Chief of the newly created Crime Intelligence Information Center. In 1970, he was selected as Chief of the Whitewater Police Department. He remained in the capacity of Chief until his retirement in 1983. During his 13 years as Police Chief, Don brought professionalism to the police department; updated the communications system and the officer�s training program; improved the procedures concerning investigations, report writing and records system; and made important contributions in the area of local emergency government. He was active in various associations and was appointed to serve on numerous committees including: President of the Walworth County Chiefs of Police Association; President of Wisconsin Chapter of the F.B.I. National Academy Association; Vice-Chairman, Central Zone, National Law Enforcement Investigative Unit Association; President of Wisconsin Sheriff�s and Deputy Sheriffs Association; and the Walworth County �911� committee. He was Emergency Government Director for the City of Whitewater, and for 10 years the Deputy Director and advisory board member of Emergency Police Services for the Southeast Area of Wisconsin. Don was a football official in the Southern Wisconsin Officials Association and the Wisconsin Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association, and an avid softball player until age 70. He was instrumental in helping his son Mark achieve numerous football honors at the U.S. Air Force Academy including All-American punter and National Punting Champion. He also served as his son�s agent during his tenure on the Denver Broncos from 1987-1990. Chief Simon is preceded in death by his wife Joyce (Kettwig) Simon, who was instrumental in his personal and career success, and his sister Ruth (Simon) Oren. He is survived by his sister Mary (Simon) Lingo of Edgerton Wisconsin; son Mark, Daughter-In-Law Merrellee, and grandsons Marcus and Kyle of Colorado Springs, Colorado. As one of Don's favorite performers Frank Sinatra once sang, "I did it my way" - Yes, you certainly did. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 1pm at Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, Whitewater, WI, with Rev. Jerald Wendt officiating. Friends may call from 11:30am until the time of service. Private Family Inurnment will be at Hillside Cemetery, Whitewater, WI.