Daryl Buhrman aka Bigfoot

Bigfoot’s Lasting Footprint
The Life, Service, and Legacy of Daryl J. Buhrman

In Baltimore, names don’t always come from official records.

They come from long shifts, from stories told and retold, from the way a person carries themselves when the job becomes difficult—and stays that way. They come from a presence.

Daryl J. Buhrman had a given name, a badge number, and a nearly twenty-year career with the Baltimore City Police Department.

But to many who knew the work—and the city—he was known simply as "Bigfoot."

The Beginning: Service in a Changing City

Buhrman joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1972, entering service during a period of significant transition in the city’s history.

Baltimore in the early 1970s was a city in flux. Industrial decline was underway, neighborhoods were evolving, and crime patterns were shifting in ways that would challenge both the department and the communities it served. Policing during this era was direct, physical, and immediate. Officers were not removed from the streets—they were immersed in them.

The work demanded resilience, adaptability, and endurance.

Buhrman remained for nearly two decades.

A Name Earned

Nicknames within law enforcement culture are rarely incidental. They are earned over time and, once established, often endure far beyond an officer’s active service.

“Bigfoot” was one such name.

While its precise origin is not recorded in official accounts, its persistence speaks to Buhrman’s presence and reputation among his peers. It reflected an officer who was remembered—not only for the work he performed, but also for the impression he left on those around him.

In a profession where formal documentation captures only part of the story, such names often preserve what records cannot.

The Injury and Its Aftermath

In 1991, Buhrman’s career concluded following a line-of-duty injury that resulted in his retirement on medical disability.

For many officers, the end of active service does not mark the end of the job’s impact. Injuries sustained in the line of duty frequently carry long-term consequences, affecting health, mobility, and quality of life for years—often decades—after retirement.

Buhrman’s experience was no exception.

Rather than withdraw from the law enforcement community, he remained actively engaged, using his experience to advocate for those facing similar challenges.

Leadership in the BRPBA

Following his retirement, Buhrman became deeply involved with the Baltimore Retired Police Benevolent Association (BRPBA), eventually serving as its president and a central figure in its continued operation.

Under his leadership, the organization maintained a clear and consistent mission: to support retired officers, their families, and the survivors of those who had served.

Central to this mission was the BRPBA Distress Fund, which provided financial assistance to members experiencing hardship. Whether assisting widows, supporting families in crisis, or addressing emergency needs, the fund represented a continuation of the mutual support that defines law enforcement culture.

In addition, the association’s death benefit program—providing $1,250 to a designated beneficiary—served as a final act of solidarity, ensuring that members and their families were not left without support.

Buhrman played a direct role in these efforts, presiding over meetings, reviewing cases, and ensuring that assistance was delivered where it was needed most.

Advocacy and Public Voice

Buhrman’s efforts extended beyond organizational leadership.

In 2025, he submitted testimony opposing Maryland Senate Bill 306, advocating for continued access to affordable prescription medications for disabled retirees.

“Through no fault of my own, I got hurt,” he wrote, “and I should not have to go through the expense of paying for my medicines and wait to be reimbursed.”

His statement reflected not only his personal experience but also the broader challenges faced by many retired officers living with service-related injuries.

A Lasting Initiative

In the final chapter of his life, Buhrman’s influence continued to shape the future of the BRPBA.

Despite battling late-stage cancer, he remained closely connected to the organization and its mission. In recognition of his service and at the realization of a long-held goal, members of the BRPBA established the Daryl Buhrman Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship, which had been discussed but never implemented, was brought to life in his presence—an acknowledgment of both his leadership and his enduring commitment to the families of fellow officers.

The fund will provide an annual $5,000 scholarship to a child or grandchild of an active BRPBA member, ensuring that his legacy continues to support future generations.

A Place in Baltimore’s History

Baltimore is a city that preserves its history not only through records but also through memory.

The officers who served during its most challenging decades are part of that history—not always as widely known figures, but as individuals whose work contributed to the fabric of the department and the city itself.

Daryl J. Buhrman belongs to that history.

His career spanned a period of significant change. His retirement did not end his service. And his contributions continued long after he left active duty.

The Final Chapter

Daryl J. Buhrman passed away on March 22, 2026, at 7:20 p.m., at the age of 79.

He is remembered for his service to the Baltimore Police Department, his leadership within the Baltimore Retired Police Benevolent Association, and his enduring advocacy on behalf of retired and disabled officers.

Enduring Legacy

The measurable details of his life are clear:

• Appointed to the Baltimore Police Department in 1972

• Served nearly twenty years

• Retired in 1991 following a line-of-duty injury

• Served as president of the BRPBA

• Advocated for the welfare of retired officers

Yet his legacy extends beyond these facts.

It is reflected in the programs he helped sustain, the individuals he assisted, and the organization he helped guide.

It is reflected in the continuation of the scholarship that bears his name.

And it endures in the memory of those who knew him—not only as Daryl Buhrman but as “Bigfoot.”