'Man of integrity': Former South Bend Chief of Police Darryl Boykins dies at 70

Photo by Marcus Marter

Dec. 17, 2024

SOUTH BEND — Former South Bend Chief of Police Darryl Boykins died peacefully surrounded by his daughters at the Ernestine Raclin House on Dec. 13.

Born April 3, 1954, in Chicago, Boykins was 70 years old, according to his obituary through Palmer’s Funeral Home. A private service is being planned, Palmer Funeral Homes confirmed Monday.

Boykins served in several roles within the South Bend Police Department before making history as the first Black Chief of Police in 2007. From his start in the department in 1984, Boykins served in patrol; a handler for his K-9, Dieter; and as a detective. Boykins retired from the police department in 2017.

Former South Bend Police Division Chief Lynn Coleman was a colleague of Boykins. Coleman served in the police department from 1977 to 2000, retiring before Boykins was named Chief of Police. Coleman served on former South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke’s staff at the time Boykins became Chief of Police. 

“He took the police department to a different level,” Coleman said of Boykins. 

Boykins, as the city’s first — and currently only — Black Chief of Police of South Bend was historical, Coleman said. Boykins came on at a time where there were not a lot of Black officers on the police department, he said. 

Coleman called Boykins a trailblazer. 

“He set the bar that it could be done,” Coleman said. “… That caused the community as a whole to respect the service of police officers, especially minority police officers, in this community.” 

In the past, three or four Black officers had served as division chiefs, Coleman said. A lawsuit was filed against the city at that time, in the 1980s, to encourage the hiring and promoting of more minority officers, he said. 

'A man of integrity'

Boykins was Chief of Police during the "police tapes" case. The tapes, which were created in the winter of 2011 on a phone line at the police department, were suspected of containing racist comments and discussions of illegal activity, The Tribune previously reported. Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg demoted Boykins to the rank of captain.

South Bend Police Capt. Dave Herron said his friend was a man of integrity. Herron declined to speak about Boykins' experience during the "police tapes" case.

"He brought me in, and over the years of talking and working together, his mentorship was the best," Herron said.

Boykins and Coleman were not socially connected, so Coleman couldn’t say what Boykins was feeling during the “police tapes” case and Boykins’ subsequent demotion. However, Coleman believes the situation was more political than anything, he said.

“Boykins — as far as I knew him, the way that I knew him — never did anything to anyone to cause anybody hardships, problems or to be negative to anybody,” Coleman said. 

Boykins was not the type of person to go out of his way to intentionally cause someone harm, he said. 

“While he was wearing that badge, he gave all he had to the police department and this community,” Coleman said. “… Historically, it will always be labeled that Darryl Boykins was a great guy, and I am honored to have known him for the service that he gave to this community.” 

A passion for community policing

Boykins believed in giving 110% percent in whatever job you do, Herron said.

To Herron, Boykins was more than a friend. He was like a second father, he said. Though Herron's own father was deeply involved in his life, he counts himself fortunate to also have had Boykins help steer him in the right direction, Herron said.

Herron described Boykins as a man of the community who wanted to strengthen police-community relations. As Boykins stepped into his role as Chief of Police, he said, that's what was important to him. That's why he founded the Police Athletic League program, Herron said.

Coleman said he couldn’t speculate why police-community relations were important to Boykins but said, “Sometimes it’s just people’s heart — for whatever reason — gets touched and gives them a cause to want to do something different — to help.” 

Boykins did more than what the job called for him to do, Coleman said. 

“His family can be proud of the service that Chief Boykins gave to this community and citizens that lived here,” he said. 

Launching South Bend's Police Athletic League

“Unfortunately, it’s tough to see him pass, but he left a mark that will cause a lot of young people … to do well," Coleman said.

Boykins was a passionate mentor and coach in South Bend's Police Athletic League. Herron is now the organization's coordinator. Boykins’ work through tennis, boxing and sports overall was Boykins’ way to get close to young people to give them a different option, Coleman said.

The PAL program, which relaunched in 2006, started with a couple buckets of balls and a handful of students, Herron said.

"Here we are still flourishing," he said.

Much of the mentorship and coaching ideals instilled in the kids today come from Boykins. He taught kids to always try.

"Don't say you can't do something, especially when you haven't even tried it," Herron said, repeating Boykins' words. "If you can do it, you keep doing it until you succeed."

An avid tennis player and fan

Boykins talked about tennis often, Herron said. In particular, he loved the whole Williams family: Richard, Serena and Venus Williams. Herron recalled playing tennis with Boykins — the man who didn't rest.

"He was known for not taking breaks," Herron said, laughing. "Pushing to the limit. … He was like Superman. You had to be on your last breath to say, 'I need to take a break.'"

Boykins was an animated tennis instructor, Heron recalled. He invited people to play tennis, such as Herron, who previously hadn't.

"People gravitate to him when they come because they see that he cares," Herron said. "That's one of the key things: You can tell not just by his words but his actions that he cares about each and every person no matter what culture, race, religion they are."