Walpole Police Officer Simmons Recovering From July 3 Heart Attack

Walpole Police Officer Robert Simmons is home and recovering after suffering a heart attack while on-duty during roll-call, July 3.

Officers were preparing for the Night Before the 4th festivities around 4:00 p.m. when Simmons collapsed to the floor and stopped breathing and had no pulse.

His fellow officers - including Jim Moses, Al Manganello and Ian Tolland - sprung into action to help resuscitate Simmons.

"Officers quickly assessed him and summonsed the defibrillator. Simmons was administered 2 shocks and was revived," according to Deputy Chief John Carmichael.

Simmons was taken to Norwood Hospital and then to Tufts Medical Center in Boston for evaluation.

He has since been released from the hospital and is back home.

"Bob is home and recovering from his event and seems to be doing fine so far.  He has been going to follow up appointments and it is still undetermined what caused his situation on [July 3]," Carmichael said.

It is unknown if and when Simmons will be able to return to work.

"He is following doctors’ orders for now, but unknown what the outcome will be at this point," Carmichael said.

At their July 10 meeting, the Walpole Board of Selectmen voted to nominate the officers that were working that night for employee of the month.

“I would like our board to nominate for employee of the month the entire Walpole Police Department shift that was working on [July 3],” Selectmen Nancy Mackenzie said.

Mackenzie said the department was “critical and instrumental” in “saving [Simmons'] life."