Ocala, Florida Police Chief Killed in Plane Crash

The Police Chief of Ocala, Florida Greg Graham was the single victim of a plane crash in Dunnellon, Florida where he was the only occupant of the aircraft said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods in a press conference this afternoon.

The plane came down in the 9700 block of Southwest 140th Ave. in Dunnellon which is close to Marion County’s airport. The crash site was reached by deputies and fire department personnel at approximately 11:30 am this morning.

Graham was reported to have only recently gained his private pilot’s license according to the mayor of Ocala, Kent Guinn. Guinn has appointed Deputy Chief Mike Balken as the interim chief.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods stated, “The family of Chief Greg Graham, Ocala Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and all who knew Chief Graham experienced a tragedy today, right now, the focus is to assist his family and his family in blue who are impacted by his sudden and tragic loss.”

Graham had served as the chief of police in Ocala since January 2012 and was the agency’s 30th chief in a department that dates back to the late 1800’s. Graham had previously been a deputy chief until 2008, leaving to become the chief of police in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before returning as chief in 2012. Officers paid tribute to Graham by lining the street in his honor today as the flag outside of city hall and the police department was lowered to half staff.