Perry's Prattle 10-24-7

The life of Sheriff Doc Daffin

In concluding an article a few weeks ago, mention was made of former Bay County Sheriff M.J. (Doc) Daffin.

It was my privilege to have known Sheriff Doc Daffin personally. I was employed as a probation and parole officer on Dec. 1, 1958, and was assigned as District Supervisor for Bay County on March 9, 1959.

I was the only officer for Bay County for many of my eleven-and-one-half years of service in Bay and, later, Gulf County.

M.J. (Doc) Daffin had been sheriff of Bay County for seven years when I was hired as probation officer. I knew him, but he did not know me. The sheriff was one of the first to welcome the new, fledgling, inexperienced Perry Wells on board as an officer of the court.

This was one of the titles we enjoyed for the services we rendered to the county and circuit judges in conducting pre-sentence investigations on those who pleaded guilty or were convicted of crimes. We also supervised those individuals placed on probation by the courts. My job also included supervising those persons released on parole from the prisons.

The duties of the office required almost daily contact with the sheriff’s office and a cross section of its employees. Cooperation, support and encouragement could always be depended up on the sheriff’s employees under the direction of Sheriff Daffin.

Michael Jacoby Daffin was born in Millville Feb. 24, 1902, to James Horace Daffin and Lola Russ Daffin. His dad served as a deputy sheriff and as Mayor of Millville.

Young Daffin’s dream was to ecome a medical doctor. He dropped the idea after a stint at the University of Florida, but from the experience, he gained the nickname of “Doc.”

After leaving college, “Doc” entered the business world as a partner in the Daffin and Dogburn Clothing Store. Later, he owned Daffin Style Shop.

“Doc” Daffin joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II and served in combat in Africa, Corsica and Italy from 1942 to 1945. Upon discharge, he resumed his business and political career and was elected Sheriff of Bay County in 1952.

In 1961, after a series of articles appeared in the Panama City News-Herald, a Pulitzer Prize was awarded to the newspaper. These reports alleged corruption involving gambling and moonshine operations against the popular sheriff.

This resulted in Florida Governor C. Farris Bryant suspending the sheriff from office. Charlie Abbott was appointed as interim sheriff.

The charges against “Doc” Daffin were never substantiated and he was exonerated on all charges.

The following year, Daffin campaigned for re-election as sheriff on the platform of “returning the office to the voters.” He was re-elected as Sheriff of Bay County, receiving the greatest number of votes in his political career.

Daffin prided himself on being a “round the clock” sheriff and as being the “people’s sheriff.” One of his famous statements, both as a candidate, and as sheriff was “If you want to know anything about “Doc” Daffin, just ask “Doc” Daffin. He was truthful and straightforward in dealing with “his people.”

He further helped promote a second nickname for himself, “Dishes!” “Dishisyosheriff MJDoc Daffin” was the statement made in his deep trademark voice. Sheriff Daffin received a lot of “mileage” from this gimmick.

Known as the “unbeatable sheriff,” Daffin introduced modern crime detection methods, marked patrol cars, uniformed deputies, jail matrons, a state of the art communications system and an outstanding investigation division to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

He boasted of no crimes going unsolved during his administration.

He was founder of Junior Deputies and referred to the participants as “his boys.” “Doc” Daffin was one of the driving forces in the establishment of the Florida Sheriff’s Boys Ranch. It is reported that congressional and gubernatorial candidates sought and coveted his support in their bid for votes.

Daffin was a Baptist, Mason, Shriner, Elk, Moose, American Legion, VFW and DAV.

He was a member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association, St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club and a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Panama City.

Daffin was given credit for Bay County having few problems during the tumultuous years of desegregation of the school system. The sheriff had a history of working closely with black leaders and pastors in the community. Sheriff Daffin reportedly averted tragedy when he put the word out that “I will enforce the law.”

On Jan. 29, 1971, at age 68, “Doc” Daffin died from a stroke while still serving as Sheriff of Bay County. The Panama City News Herald eulogized him as a “living legend” in his lifetime and recognized him as the undisputed king of Bay County politics.

“Doc” was undoubtedly the community’s most colorful public figure and was loved by people of all segments of life. Bob Sikes, who was then congressman, described Sheriff Daffin as “one of the greatest sheriffs I’ve ever known and one of the greatest men.”

In the Heritage of Bay County book, released in May 2005, the Rev. J.R. Daffin, nephew to Sheriff Daffin, wrote a beautiful and honoring story on the life of M.J. (Doc) Daffin. The “prattler” gives credit to his writing in recapping some of my memories and experiences with this unusual law man.

It was my special privilege of having known M.J. “Doc” Daffin and for the experience of calling him my friend.

See you-all next week.

Heritage book

A shipment of 125 additional copies of the popular Heritage of Washington County book arrived recently, according to Perry Wells.

“This represents a third printing of the fast-selling books,” he said.

Books are available by calling Wells at 850-638-1016 or by emailing perry1000@bellsouth.net.

Price of the book remains the same, $64.20 for those picked up in Chipley, and $70 for those mailed. Wells will mail your book to you

Call or email him immediately as he already has orders for 42 of the limited supply of books.