Police chief remembers his roots by having lunch with former chief – mentor
Irmo, SC (Paul Kirby) – Irmo’s Police Chief Don Perry took some time out of his day last week to stay in touch with his past and honor the man who started him on his career path to police chief of the Town of Irmo. Perry, who is the current chief of the Irmo Police Department, ate lunch and reminisced with former IPD Chief Dave Graham. They were accompanied by the Department’s Captain and Public Information Officer Courtney Dennis and MSG. Bobby Dale.
In 1998, Chief Graham hired Don Perry as a patrolman with the department. Eventually, Graham left law enforcement after leading the Irmo Police Department during a period that saw the town change dramatically. With the town growing and expanding, Graham had to guide the department as it did too. Perry stayed in Irmo and worked his way through the ranks. He was named the chief of the department in 2016.
Between the men who enjoyed the meal, there was at least a century of law enforcement experience between them. There were plenty of old war stories to remember and lots to laugh about as the ones who now lead, enjoyed spending time with the one who led so many others for so long. It was a wonderful way of showing Chief Graham that he has not been forgotten. Chief Perry and the other members of the department remember and respect the history and contributions Graham oversaw during his tenure.
On their social media page, the men and women of the Irmo Police Department thanked a well-known and respected citizen of the Town of Irmo, Brian Pena of The Karate Dojo, for making the lunch possible. George Santayana, a professor in philosophy at Harvard University and a student at Boston Latin School and Harvard College who studied under philosophers William James and Josiah Royce once wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." In Irmo, that doesn’t seem to be a problem.
Photo: (L to R) : MSG Bobby Dale, Capt. Courtney Dennis, Police Chief Dave Graham (ret.) and Irmo Police Chief Don Perry.
