TOLEDO, Ohio — It has been eight years since Toledo Police Chief Derrick W. Diggs left the Glass City for the same position in Fort Myers, Florida. It has also been a little over one year now since he passed away.
His legacy lives on through his son and in a new police award.
Derrick D. Diggs, son of Derrick W. Diggs, doesn't hold back when he talks about his father. The words come easy because of what he means to both him and the Toledo community.
"He is loved in the Ft. Myers community, still loved here in Toledo. People talk about him all the time," Derrick D. Diggs said.
His father was sworn in by Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre in 2011 when Navarre retired.
Derrick W. Diggs became the first Black police chief in Toledo's history.
"For all of you ex-partners and retirees when you leave here today remember one thing, you'll be walking with me as I carry this badge as chief of police for the Toledo Police Department," Chief Derrick W. Diggs said when taking the oath in 2011.
This big moment, the swearing in, was perhaps the highlight of his 37-year career with TPD.
As chief, Diggs worked to get more police recruits and raise the number of officers to protect the city.
One of his favorite programs was the Police Athletic League (PAL). It was a way to keep kids active and away from a life of crime.
Chief Diggs left Toledo in 2016 to be chief of the Fort Myers Police Department and brought policies that worked in Toledo to Florida, including PAL.
"And just seeing the childrens' lives that he has changed down there, where it gave them an outlet to be able to have a place to go after school or sports, to be able to get affiliated with because of the outreach that he put with that community to give them a place to go, an alternative to crime," said his son, Derrick D. Diggs.
Chief Diggs died of cancer in 2023 and it was a tough loss for his family and the people of Ft. Myers.
"And he did that here. He did it in Florida, but he went above and beyond, and his legacy speaks for itself," said Megan Stockburger, one of the founders of the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame.
It's an organization that started in Toledo and is now based in Ft. Worth, Texas.
On March 22 in Ft. Worth, the Hall of Fame will posthumously award Chief Diggs with the Founder's Award.
"The Founders Award was created to honor the best of the best from this area, and it just so happened that he also made his mark in Florida, but we got it right this time, for sure," Stockburger said.
"I just know he will be smiling from above. Even though he's gone, he's not forgotten. He's always still just even a bright ray of sunshine on people," said Derrick D. Diggs of his father.
"I think he created their department into being the third safest city in Florida while he was there. I mean, the work he has done across the country should be recognized and remembered," Stockburger added.
Derrick D. Diggs is following in his father's footsteps and is a sergeant with the Lucas County Sheriff's Office. He's a shift commander in the Booking section.
"But he was my superhero growing up and I wanted to be just like him," Derrick D. Diggs said.
Chief Diggs' grandson, also named Derrick, was very close to him, as well.
Derrick D. Diggs will be in Ft. Worth on March 22, with his son, to accept the Founders Award in his dad's honor.
In 2023, current Toledo Police chief Mike Troendle won the same award.
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