Officer Robert Simken

Eustis Police Department:

[PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]

(This Article was First Published in LLN in November, 2013 — Issue No. 16.)

Officer Robert Simken has lived in his fair share of places and had his fair share of careers, but it’s at the Eustis Police Department, in Florida, that he is finally living his lifelong dream. “I’ve always wanted to be a police officer,” Simken tells Lake Legal News.

Becoming a police officer at 42 years-of-age may seem to some like a disadvantage, but “Smikey” (as he is affectionately known) believes it has been to his advantage. “I can think things through because I have life experience,” Simken, now 47, says. Formerly a mortgage broker and still a real estate agent, Simken says his sales background has helped in his law enforcement career. “It makes it easier to talk with people,” he explains, “my sales background helped dramatically.”

Recently married to his wife, Jeni Naomi, Simken is stepfather to her 20-year-old son, Eddie, who recently joined the military police in the United States Army. Simken, who lost his own son when his son was just 6 years old, says he has always felt like he needed to live his life for both of them. And that he has. He’s lived Florida, New York, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas and California before finally settling back in the Sunshine State. Besides law enforcement and real estate, he is also a certified personal trainer.

“I try to keep my nose in everything,” Simken relates. He is currently going to college and is the Community Relations Officer for Eustis Police. In that role, he is responsible for community programs such as Neighborhood Watch and the Citizens Police Academy. He is also the department’s Public Information Officer and in charge of handling all media requests, press releases and getting information out to the community in a timely manner—including through www.Nixle.com. He is available to conduct presentations for Eustis residents, businesses and local organizations on a variety of topics such as: Senior Safety, Traffic, Home Safety, Identity Theft, Identikit’s and Children’s Safety, among others. He is also available for question and answer sessions.

Simken enjoys playing sports (not watching them), and travels with his new bride. So far they’ve been on two cruises and have plans to go to Key West next year.

Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there.