The Ocala Police Department is honoring late Police Chief Greg Graham on the three-year anniversary of his fatal plane crash.
In a social media post on Wednesday, October 25, OPD stated, “Today, we remember Chief Greg Graham, a great leader who served the Ocala Police Department for more than 30 years.”
In 1983, Graham joined the Ocala Police Department as a patrol officer, and he worked his way up to become the deputy chief. In 2008, he left OPD to become the chief of the Cedar Rapids Police Department in Iowa.
Three years later, in late 2011, Graham returned to OPD to serve as police chief after Sam Williams resigned. Graham remained in that role until his untimely death on October 25, 2020.
On that day, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Graham was killed after his single-engine airplane crashed in an open field in the 9700 block of SW 140th Avenue, not far from the Marion County Airport near Dunnellon. He had recently obtained his pilot’s license, and he was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
According to OPD, Graham was known for his five rules for everyone who worked for the police department:
- Do the right thing.
- Ask for forgiveness instead of permission.
- Find a way to say “yes.”
- Treat everyone with respect.
- Have fun.
“Chief Greg Graham was dedicated to making our city a better place to live. He left us with a legacy of service and dedication that will continue to inspire us for years to come. He is greatly missed and will always be remembered,” stated the Ocala Police Department on its Facebook page.
In Chief Graham’s honor, a foundation was established to help support various nonprofit organizations that were important to him. For more information, visit the Chief Greg Graham Legacy Foundation’s website or Facebook page.