Condolences and tributes – some from young children – continued to pour into the Ocala Police Department on Tuesday following the death of Police Chief Greg Graham in a plane crash Sunday.
Graham’s vehicle was parked in front of the police department for area residents to leave tributes to the fallen chief. The top of the black SUV was covered in flowers that were donated by a local Wal-Mart and large wreaths were placed in front of the vehicle.
Several children also offered their thoughts about Graham, who had served as chief since 2012 and spent more than 30 years in law enforcement. One special message came from a child name Haylee who wrote: “I just want you to know you will be missed by many but never forgotten. My family will be keeping your family in our thoughts. May you rest in peace.”
Another child also stopped by and place a bouquet of flowers in the door handle of Graham’s vehicle. He then posed for a photograph next to the chief’s SUV, which was later posted the police department’s Facebook page with several other photos.
Graham was killed Sunday when the single-engine plane he was piloting crashed in a field near Dunnellon. He will be laid to rest in Melrose on Friday following a 10 a.m. service at the First Baptist Church of Ocala. A large screen will be set up in the baseball field area of the church for the service, which is expected to draw at least 2,000 law enforcement officers who will be coming to Ocala to pay their respects to the fallen chief.
