Escambia Sheriff Covers Showalter Park Homicide, Flock Camera Debate, Ferry Pass Murder and More

Escambia County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons joined Pensacola's Morning News on election day Tuesday with an update on several recent incidents, leading with a Showalter Park homicide that started as an organized fight and ended with one man dead and another shot, and delivering his most comprehensive defense yet of Flock license plate reader cameras.

Showalter Park Homicide

Two men arranged to meet at Showalter Park to fight over a situation involving a woman — with seven or eight people gathering to watch. After the fight concluded a bystander approached one of the combatants — who had a handgun in his waistband — and attempted to rob him of the weapon at gunpoint. The robber opened fire striking the man multiple times in the torso and killing him. A second person was shot in the leg with non-life-threatening injuries. Simmons says the group organized the fight online — meaning most of them were recording video — and says investigators have already zeroed in on a suspect while working to establish probable cause. He says cooperation from witnesses is coming in and investigators are making progress.

Ferry Pass Domestic Homicide

A welfare check in Ferry Pass led to the discovery of a man shot and killed while lying in his bed. Simmons says the victim's parents — who had not heard from their son in some time — became suspicious and contacted law enforcement. The case is domestic in nature involving two long-term roommates. Simmons declined to provide additional details citing victim protection requirements.

Armed Robbery at Plasma Center

Two women taking a break behind a plasma center were robbed at gunpoint by a man who took jewelry and other items. The suspect was arrested — and had reportedly returned to his job at a dealership after the robbery. Some of the stolen property was recovered.

Flock Camera Debate — Simmons's Most Comprehensive Defense Yet

Simmons engaged in a lengthy and substantive debate with Andrew McKay on Flock license plate reader cameras — delivering what may be his most forceful defense of the technology to date. His core argument is that there is no expectation of privacy on public roadways — a principle already established by the Supreme Court and exercised every time a deputy manually runs a plate while driving. He cited Thomas Jefferson's observation that laws and institutions must evolve alongside human progress — saying Jefferson could not have envisioned license plate readers but would have understood the principle. Simmons said the Flock cameras are the most valuable law enforcement tool he has seen in 40 years of law enforcement — more valuable in his view than fingerprints or DNA. He said if forced to choose one of the three he would take license plate readers without hesitation. He says statewide there would be hundreds if not thousands of serious criminals still on the streets without them — and finds it peculiar that critics single out this particular technology while accepting every other form of modern surveillance. He also noted that Flock recently announced reforms that ECSO already had in place.

Rivera Sign Complaint

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing a complaint filed by a Mr. McMillan against Ronnie Rivera — an Escambia County Sheriff's Office employee and experienced local campaign operative — related to a political sign dispute near an early voting location. Sheriff Chip Simmons says his office received both a criminal complaint and an internal policy complaint tied to Rivera's employment with the agency — and referred both to FDLE rather than handle them in-house given the conflict of interest. Simmons says the statute in question deals with business and permitted signs rather than political signs specifically — and notes as a former candidate himself that sign disputes near busy polling locations happen hundreds of times every election cycle. FDLE is handling the criminal review.