Floyd Simpson began his job as Corpus Christi’s first black police chief March 12, 2012. He was a 25-year-veteran of the Dallas Police Department and well-liked in both departments. Courtesy Photo
Downtown Corpus Christi is covered in blue and black ribbons in honor of Police Chief Floyd Simpson, who was killed in a motorcycle accident Sunday, May 3 on Hwy. 361 near Port Aransas. Services for the well-liked officer are Friday morning at 11 a.m., followed by a 21-gun salute and an emergency vehicle procession.
Shoreline Drive and westbound South Padre Island Drive will be closed to traffic at noon in preparation for the procession. Vehicles will leave the American Bank center and travel along Shoreline Blvd. to Ocean Drive, taking a right on Ennis Joslin Road to SPID. They will then travel westbound on SPID to Old Brownsville Road. A detour at Williams will lead vehicles past police headquarters downtown.
Doors open at the American Bank Center at 9:30 a.m. The services are open to the public on a first come, first serve basis, with seating reserved for police officers and other first responders.
American Bank Center parking is also reserved for police and first responders. The public will be directed to the parking lots at Whataburger Field and the Solomon P. Ortiz International Center.
Other events planned include a Memorial Ride for Chief Simpson, which departs from Corpus Christi Harley-Davidson at 502 SPID at 10 a.m. Friday.
On May 17, the Coalition of Independent Riders will hold a “Do You See Me Now?” Motorcycle Safety Awareness and Memorial Ride starting at Labonte Park on IH 37 near Texas Hwy 77 at 11 a.m.
A second funeral service will be held in Dallas on Tuesday, May 12, where Simpson served as assistant chief of the Dallas Police Department. He was a 25-year veteran of the Dallas force before taking over as chief in Corpus Christi in March 2012. Dallas services will be held at Friendship West Baptist Church. Burial will be in his hometown of Chicago.
The family has asked for donations in lieu of flowers to Special Olympics Texas at sotx.org.
Cards should be sent to Corpus Christi Police Department, 321 John Sartain St., Corpus Christi, TX 78401.
