MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham was killed in a small plane crash Sunday morning.
Marion County firefighters found him inside of a crashed plane in the Dunnellon area at around 11:30 a.m.
First responders in the county are still reeling from the loss of one of their own.
“We were then shocked and grief-stricken to learn that the pilot was my good friend and mentor Chief Greg Graham,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.
During a somber press conference, the county sheriff and deputy chief discussed how difficult it was to share the details of an investigation about the death of someone they were so close to that happened so close to home.
A few deputies are here guarding the scene of the late Ocala police chief's plane crash. Federal investigators will be coming to help determine how and why Chief Greg Graham crashed in this Dunnellon field.https://t.co/flVtZhq9CQ pic.twitter.com/VvcL9UedAv
— Deanna Allbrittin (@deannaTVnews) October 25, 2020
The Ocala Police Department, where Graham was chief, is just 20 miles from the open field where he died inside the crashed plane.
A motorcade of his uniformed family wound through Ocala on Sunday afternoon.
Deputies were on guard at the scene of the plane crash until Sunday evening.
Watch: Tropical Storm Zeta forms in the Caribbean
Woods said Federal Aviation Administration authorities will be onsite soon to investigate how and why Graham’s plane crashed.
Members of the law enforcement community around Central Florida are reacting to the tragic death of Graham.
Our hearts are heavy to learn of the untimely passing of Ocala Police Department Chief Greg Graham. Chief Graham was a...
Posted by Palm Coast Professional Firefighters Local 4807 on Sunday, October 25, 2020
Thoughts and prayers to the family of @ocalapd Chief Graham and the officers who are hurting from this sudden loss. Heartfelt condolences from your brothers and sisters at #WPPD. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/EaJZESlbAI
— Winter Park Police (@WinterParkPD) October 25, 2020
So sorry to hear about the passing of Chief Greg Graham. Our thoughts and prayers are with with his family and the @ocalapd. https://t.co/fBPL5Q0Pvx
— Sheriff John Mina (@SheriffMina) October 25, 2020
. @SheriffMina and the men and women of the OCSO are grieving with the Ocala Police Department, whose Chief, Greg Graham, died earlier today in a small-plane crash in Marion County. We are sending our prayers to the family, loved ones & colleagues of Chief Graham. https://t.co/AHW0HwyIWL
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) October 26, 2020
Sheriff Russ Gibson and the @OsceolaSheriff stand with the residents of the State of Florida as we mourn the loss of @ocalapd Chief Greg Graham who died in a plane crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the entire Law Enforcement family. pic.twitter.com/kMC0i2RZGI
— Osceola County Sheriff's Office (@OsceolaSheriff) October 26, 2020
Condolences to Chief Graham’s family and the Ocala Police Department. He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him. https://t.co/UTKAq0cd7g
— Chief Orlando Rolón (@OrlandoPDChief) October 25, 2020
Sheriff Lemma and the men and women of the SCSO are saddened to hear of the tragic loss of Ocala Police Department Chief Greg Graham who died earlier today in a small-plane crash in Marion Co. We send our condolences and prayers to the family and the loved ones of Chief Graham.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) October 25, 2020
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-19-2024/t_6c6aa09b614741c2a65e273c1596f81e_name_Untitled_Sequence_01_Video_Mixdown_1.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LW2VP2Y6PJDZPLDJCDBZRFVCAI.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/V5TWF6CJAZFXBLDTZXOE47OMN4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/OIQ2NVEWXRGJTEAF2EYHJ4DRYA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DV3D5PBQIZFEPANBGDDAZHIA5I.jpg)