07 Oct Governor Honors CCPD Officer Kyle Simmons for Lifesaving Rescue

Gov. Greg Abbott honored Senior Officer Kyle Simmons of the Corpus Christi Police Department with the 2026 Officer of the Year Award during the 50th Anniversary Convention of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) in San Antonio on Oct. 3.

Simmons was one of 17 law enforcement personnel across the state recognized with the distinction, according to a release from the governor’s office.

The award stems from an incident on Aug. 10, 2025, when Simmons arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle crash where a car hit a pole and a palm tree before bursting into flames. Upon arrival, Simmons moved a passenger who had been thrown clear of the vehicle to a safe distance before attempting to reach the driver trapped inside.

Facing intense heat and heavy smoke, Simmons made multiple attempts to extract the driver, whose legs had caught fire. He successfully freed the driver’s legs and pulled him from the wreckage moments before the vehicle was entirely consumed by fire.

In addition to his lifesaving actions, the award recognized Simmons for his ongoing service on the board of directors for the Corpus Christi Police Officers Association.

During his address at the CLEAT convention, Abbott commended Texas officers for their dedication to public safety. Ahead of the event on Oct. 2, the governor officially designated October 2026 as Law Enforcement Appreciation Month in Texas.