DUPD officials investigating officer’s history

The Duke University Police Department has started its internal investigation of officer Webster Simmons’s actions at Duke.

Simmons was arrested and charged with first degree rape and sodomy in Dothan, Ala. Oct. 26, and is currently being held in the Houston County jail. Simmons, 37, is a DUPD patrol officer and was suspended with pay last week.

DUPD Chief John Dailey said Duke is investigating whether Simmons violated any University or DUPD policies. Dailey could not comment on the details of the ongoing investigation, but said he hopes it is completed as soon as possible. Because the investigation is ongoing and because Simmons is innocent until proven guilty, Dailey said he does not know if DUPD will fire Simmons.

Duke hired Simmons in December 2008, WRAL reported Oct. 27. Simmons previously worked as a field operations officer with the Raleigh Police Department from June 15, 1998 until he resigned Oct. 31, 2007. Simmons earned the designation of master officer several years into the job. RPD Public Information Officer Jim Sughrue said the master officer position is the second highest officer rank. Sughrue said he does not know why Simmons resigned from RPD.

Dailey said he knows why Simmons left RPD, but he declined to offer an explanation.

Dailey added that Simmons’ alleged actions do not represent the actions of other DUPD employees.

“It’s disappointing when an employee is alleged to have done something as serious as this, but it does not in any way reflect the professionalism of the other employees within the department,” Dailey said.