GADSDEN — After nearly 32 years of service to the City of Gadsden, Detective Ron Leek is retiring from law enforcement, bringing to a close a career marked by leadership, community engagement and extensive investigative work.

Throughout his career with the Gadsden Police Department, Leek served in a variety of roles, gaining experience in patrol, training and criminal investigations. He worked as a Field Training Officer, helping guide and mentor new officers entering the profession, and later served as a narcotics investigator, handling complex drug-related cases.

Most recently, Leek worked as a detective in the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, where he continued to apply decades of law enforcement experience to criminal cases in the community.

In addition to his duties with the police department, Leek has been a strong advocate for law enforcement officers across Alabama. He currently serves as president of the Alabama Fraternal Order of Police, representing officers and supporting issues affecting the profession statewide.

Department officials said Leek’s greatest contribution may have been the relationships he built throughout the community during his three decades of service. Known for his outgoing personality and ability to connect with people from all walks of life, Leek developed friendships and professional relationships that extended far beyond his investigative work.

The Gadsden Police Department thanked Leek for his years of service, leadership and dedication to the citizens of Gadsden, noting that while his experience and investigative skills will be missed, his impact on the community and department will be long remembered.

As he begins retirement, colleagues and community members alike are celebrating a career that spanned nearly three decades and left a lasting mark on the city he served.