Elwyn Mauriece Coffman, Jr.

Term of Office, 1985-1992

Elwyn Mauriece Coffman, Jr. was born in October 1929 in Fulton, Kentucky. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S.
Air Force, during the Korean Conflict. He married Shirley Spicer in1952. Coffman attended Bruce Business Institute of Accounting, Pensacola Junior College, and Valencia Community College. He received law enforcement training in Narcotics, S.W.A.T., Anti-Sniper and Survival Training, and Hostage Negotiations.

Coffman began his law enforcement career as a Santa Rosa County deputy sheriff under the late Sheriff Wade H. Cobb, Sr. and served until Cobb's retirement. There were only five deputies in Santa Rosa County at that time. The hours were long, his day off was spent in court, and the pay was only $350.00 per month. Due to the long hours and low pay, Coffman left the law enforcement arena and went to work for a finance company.  Missing the field of law enforcement, Coffman hired on at Milton Police Department where he became the department's first full-time investigator. He later returned to the sheriff's office where he served under Sheriff Harvell Enfinger and Sheriff Jim Powell.

In 1977, Coffman received the "Officer of The Year" award from the Fraternal Order of Police for his pioneering efforts and success in the use of hypnosis in criminal investigations. He was elected sheriff in 1984 and 1988. He served in this capacity until 1992.  Coffman was renowned for his "Open Door" policy and his "I Care" attitude.

Coffman's law enforcement career spanned over 24 years. He died in April, 1995.