Paul was born March 12, 1944 to Beverly George and Mary Sue (McArthur) Huffman. He attended Hughes High School, participated in Pep Club and Merchandising Club, and graduated in 1962. He also attended the University of Cincinnati for a year.
Paul joined the United States Army Reserve and was honorably discharged about 1968 after six years.
Paul joined the Springfield Township Police Department as a Patrolman. He graduated from the Norwood Police Academy on October 27, 1967. He was promoted to Sergeant during December 1972. In August 1974, he was promoted to Lieutenant. Lieutenant Huffman was honored at the annual Police Appreciation Dinner in 1975 for Ideas Leading to the Improvement of Police Operations for his adding detective and dog units to the Department. He then attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy, graduating on September 23, 1976. He was promoted to Captain during February 1978.
Later that year, the position of Lieutenant Colonel was added as an assistant to Police Chief William Hafer and Captain Huffman was promoted to it on June 16, 1978. While in that position, he oversaw the successful investigations of an unknown 18-month-old girl’s murder and the kidnapping and murder of Jason Evers. For six years, he also served as president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 74. The township appointed him Police Chief on October 13, 1987. Within a year, he was preparing the Department for the introduction of 9-1-1. A year later, he upgraded the officers’ revolvers to 9mm semiautomatic pistols. During 1990, he helped introduce DARE into the area schools. Finally, he installed mobile data terminals in the patrol cars in 1993. Chief Huffman retired March 18, 1994 with 32 years of service to his country and community.
Chief Huffman died on July 6, 2023 at the age of 79.
He was predeceased by his brother, Jimmy Huffman, and son-in-law, Bobby Almon, Jr. Chief Huffman is survived by his wife, Debora “Debbie” (Kritzmacher) Huffman; children, Paula (Billy Cole) Allmon, Craig W. (Debbie) Huffman, Tim (Carrie) Sarvis, and Fred (Glenda) Sarvis III; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, and siblings, Gary (Judy) Huffman, retired Cincinnati Police Officer Dan (Valerie) Huffman, Sue Toth, and Jeanne (Paul) Rankin.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Mt. Olivet United Presbyterian Church in Trenton with Pastor Jason Bantz officiating. Interment will be at St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery. A luncheon will be held after the services at the Middletown Moose Lodge #501, 2009 S. Main Street, Middletown.
© 2023 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum