Robert (Bobby) Dale, a man deeply dedicated to his profession, was promoted to Chief of Police of the Town of Irmo in August of 2021 after 18 years with the Irmo Police Department. His love for the job is palpable, and he refers to it as a passion. As a fifth-generation law enforcement officer, Chief Dale’s commitment to the profession is not just a personal choice, but his family’s legacy that includes a great-great-grandfather, US Deputy Marshal Sidney Marion Dale.
Once Dale’s plans changed from becoming a NASA astronaut (they didn’t take six-year-olds at the time) to becoming a major league player (he was eight and loved baseball), the lure of the family profession came calling.
At eighteen, Dale became a South Carolina Highway Patrol Explorer. “It was like a cadet program but done through the Boy Scouts of America. You get to wear a uniform and look like a cop, but you’re not a cop,” he said. A few months after 9/11, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport added four police officer divisions. The airport hired three officers from different agencies but wanted an Academy-trained applicant.
Dale was hired and attended the Police Academy from January to March 2002. After a successful year and a half at the airport, he felt it was time for the next step in his career. He applied to the Irmo Police Department and was hired in November 2003. Over the years, Dale has held various positions, gaining a comprehensive understanding of policing. He said, “I still learn every day. We have good people here, which makes my job easier.”
As Chief, Dale has had to learn to deal with politics. He feels fortunate that Irmo has a very supportive town council, which he thanks in part to Mayor Danielson’s efforts in getting the town council in tune with the police department. Dale said, “Many Chiefs say the shelf-life for a Chief of Police in South Carolina is only three years. I’m in a good spot here and hope it continues.”
Dale was born in Alabama. His dad’s job in the Army involved moving, once taking the family to Berlin, Germany, for four years. Between here and Georgia, Dale attended three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Those experiences undoubtedly impacted the Chief’s ability to interact comfortably with people wherever he worked. By the time he became the Chief of Police in Irmo, Dale knew the business of policing well and was the right fit.
Dale and his wife have three boys. He shared, “My wife, Karen, has played a huge role in the success of my career by making sure the ‘trains are on time’ (so to speak). She pretty much does everything for our day-to-day routines…. I just work!” Might we have a sixth-generation police officer down the road? His 11- and 13-year-old boys are in the Explorer program he was in as a young man. “When I’m at home, sometimes all I hear is sirens because my son watches police chases on TV. Man, I can’t get away from those sirens,” Chief Dale said.