The community is mourning the loss of former Auburn Police Chief Frank “Buddy” DeGraffenried who died Thursday, March 5. As his nickname “Buddy” implies, DeGraffenried was a friend to many.
Degraffenried served the Auburn Police Division for 33 years. He became police chief in 2003 and retired in 2010.
“He was as good as they get as a police chief, he was the finest man I’ve ever known to wear a badge,” said Tommy Dawson, former Auburn police chief and current city councilman. “He was a good man who cared about the citizens of Auburn, especially Auburn students, he was really concerned with their safety.”
Paul Register, current Auburn police chief, said that after DeGraffenried retired he was still extremely involved in the community. Register said DeGraffenried was involved with United Way, a local school board, Alabama Association of Chief of Police, attending state legislature meetings and bringing awareness to issues during legislative sessions.
DeGraffenried was Register’s boss before he retired.
“Even when things would be difficult I can just always remember him being very relaxed and not worrying about anything,” Register said. “I can remember serious cases that we’ve worked and he just never you know would get rattled or bothered by it, he was just always able to be calm and confident.”
Dawson said DeGraffenried taught him that you could find a purpose in everybody, and to be more patient with people. Dawson said he considered DeGraffenried to be one of his true friends that he could always count on.
“He’s going to leave such a big legacy it’s unbelievable,” Dawson said.
After DeGraffenried retired, he spent a lot of his time with his family and on his farm in Notasulga. Register said it was obvious that family was very important to DeGraffenried.
“Up until the very day he passed away he enjoyed his farm, you know being on his tractor, being with his animals, his grandchildren, his wife,” Register said.
Bill James, director of public safety, said he worked with DeGraffenried every day starting in 2004 until the time he retired. He said that DeGraffenried always smiling or laughing every time he saw him.
“He did everything the right way, treated everybody fairly, wanted the best for people and helped in anyway he could,” James said. “He was very professional and fair.”
Dawson said that no matter who showed up and wanted to see DeGraffenried or anyone who had a problem, he would take time out of his day to make sure he could talk to them.
“The way he lived his everyday life was one of my favorite things about him,” Dawson said. “It’s hard to find a more caring man. He was the type of individual that if you couldn’t get along with him, you couldn’t get along with anybody.”
A memorial service for DeGraffenried will be held Thursday, March 19, at the Auburn United Methodist Church at 3 p.m.
“I have a hard time accepting that he’s actually gone,” Dawson said. “I’m thankful I know where he’s at. I know he went to heaven.”
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