- September 21, 2024
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Senior Deputy Frank Scofield, a Navy veteran and 24-year Volusia County deputy. Photo by Caroline Smith
Officers outside First Baptist Church honor fallen Senior Deputy Frank Scofield. Photo by Caroline Smith
Military and police officers assembled for an honor ceremony where three shots from a rifle were fired for Senior Deputy Frank Scofield. Photo by Caroline Smith
A folded American flag is escorted out of the church by a Navy sailor. Photo by Caroline Smith
Police gather outside the First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach after Frank Scofield's celebration of life. Photo by Caroline Smith
An aerial salute for Senior Deputy Frank Scofield. Photo by Caroline Smith
Adam Scofield, Frank Scofield's son, speaks on behalf of his father at the Celebration of Life ceremony held at the First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. Photo by Caroline Smith
Over 500 people gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of fallen Volusia County Sheriff's Office Senior Deputy Frank Scofield at the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach on Thursday, June 6.
Scofield, a U.S. Navy veteran who had been with VCSO since 1995, was fatally struck by a van early morning on Sunday, June 2. He, along his wife Susan attended the Spruce Creek Baptist Church. Pastor Steve Loy commenced the service by illustrating the kind of man and officer Scofield was for Volusia County in the years he served.
Loy said he was fostering three girls who were terrified of police officers, but after being introduced to Scofield, the girls were able to reconcile their fears because Scofield was a good man, “full of the Holy Spirit.”
“Susan, he loved you, and he had to go up there and get things ready for you,” Loy said. Scofield and his wife had been together for 28 years.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood noted that Scofield had been involved in a bicycling accident in the past, and when Chitwood experienced his own bicycling accident in 2017, a text from Scofield made things alright.
“The text message was eight words,” Chitwood said. “Welcome to the club. Yours in Christ, Frank."
Chitwood said that those eight words made him laugh at first. Then he knew Scofield was praying for him and was there for him.
Scofield’s son Adam Scofield said his father was the “most encouraging person” he had ever met, and that he was good at everything he did.
“All he had to do was give you a handshake or a hug and you knew that he was your best friend,” Adam Scofield said. “Especially for the people in his family, like me and my sister and my mom, he would text randomly and say, ‘I love you,’ or ‘good morning.’ The last text that he sent me just Saturday morning was, ‘Good morning, Doctor Adam. I love you and I hope you have a great day.’”
Adam Scofield said his father always wanted people to know that he was there for them.
“He always made you feel like everything was going to be okay,” he said.
Volusia County Councilman Ben Johnson, who is also a former Volusia County sheriff, was Frank Scofield's friend. He brought a wooden, carved stick to the service, saying that those in law enforcement know that being given a stick means you have been accepted. He said he brought it “to be able to say that Frank Scofield accepted me, and gave me this stick.”
Johnson described Scofield as tough, but fair, dedicated, standup, and a “cop’s cop.” He said Scofield was a true friend who never turned his back on anybody.
“We will never forget our friend, Frank," Johnson said.
Frank Scofield’s nephew Samuel spoke about the hunting trips he took with Frank Scofield and his colleagues. He noted that Frank Scofield was a “very honest and ethical person,” both when it came to being a hunter and a deputy.
Samuel Scofield read a note from his father to close.
“We’ve all enjoyed being with Frank on his journey throughout life and we know that he has finished it successfully in the arms of his Redeemer," he read. "As we continue on in this journey, let’s all make sure we finish as brothers and sisters in Christ.”
