Leonard receives Order of Long Leaf Pine Award

Wake Forest Police Chief Jeff Leonard, who is retiring February 1, has been awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for state service given by the North Carolina Governor. The award is presented to people who have made significant contributions to North Carolina and their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. People named to The Order become honorary North Carolina “ambassadors” with their names and award dates recorded on a roster maintained by The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society.

John Lucey, Legislative Director for Governor Josh Stein, presented the award to Leonard on Thursday evening, Jan. 29, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre during a reception to celebrate Leonard’s retirement from the Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) after 32 years of service – the last 15 as Police Chief.

A Wake Forest native and NC State graduate, Leonard began his career in public service as a volunteer with the Wake Forest Fire Department in 1987, where he served until 2010. 

Leonard joined the WFPD as a part-time auxiliary officer in 1992 before becoming a full-time officer in August 1994. Over the next several years, he served in a variety of specialized positions, including Juvenile Officer, General Crimes Detective, Narcotics Sergeant (2001), Investigations Lieutenant (2003), and as a member of the Tactical Service Unit. He was promoted to Major in 2003, Deputy Chief in 2007, Interim Chief in January 2010, and Police Chief in July 2010.

Under Leonard’s direction, the WFPD achieved CALEA accreditation in 2018 and re-accreditation in 2022. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Administrative Officers Management Program through NC State University.