*** Colonel Mac Leish Retirement Announcement ***

The Delaware State Police announces today the retirement of the Superintendent of State Police, Colonel Thomas F. Mac Leish, effective Wednesday, July 1. Mac Leish, who faces mandatory retirement at age 55 in August, has served the residents of Delaware with distinction for almost 32 years.

Mac Leish joined the State Police in 1977. Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks. In 2001, he was promoted to Major where he served as Operations Officer for Kent and Sussex Counties. In 2003, Mac Leish was promoted to Lt. Colonel where he served until October of 2004 when he was appointed Acting Superintendent by Governor Ruth Ann Minner. In 2005, Governor Ruth Ann Minner appointed him to the position of Superintendent, with the rank of Colonel.

Since assuming the role of Superintendent, Mac Leish has led the DSP overseeing 671 sworn troopers and 255 civilian employees. He is credited with effectively leading the State’s largest police agency during a time of constant change and with the numerous, multi-faceted challenges police organizations face today. He was squarely focused on providing effective and efficient law enforcement services with an attitude of professionalism and compassion and with maintaining open and healthy relations within the agency, the media and the public.

Mac Leish stated “For the past 32 years I have been blessed to serve the citizens of this state while working for one of the best organizations in the country. It’s been an absolute honor and privilege to lead such a group of outstanding men and women who so proudly represent DSP and selflessly provide law enforcement services to the citizens and visitors of Delaware. I will miss them tremendously.” Mac Leish continued to say, “I know the rich history and tradition that I have worked so hard to preserve will continue under the new leadership and that the DSP will continue its path forward as one of the best and brightest law enforcement agencies in the nation.”

During his tenure with the State Police, Mac Leish served on many related councils and organizations such as the Delaware Police Chiefs Council, the Council on Police Training, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Camp Barnes and others. He holds a B.S. in Management and Supervision from Wilmington University and is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy. In 2006, he also graduated from the FBI's National Executive Institute. Mac Leish and his wife Margie reside in Kent County and have four sons.

Lewis Schiliro, Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security says, “As a member of the law enforcement community for over 30 years, I have worked with some of the greatest law enforcement leaders in the world. In the past six months, Col. Mac Leish has shown me that he is one of those great leaders. He has been a mentor, a great teacher and an incredible partner. I wish him and his family the best in all future endeavors.”

Governor Jack Markell said, “I want to thank Colonel Macleish for his many years of service and his dedication to keeping Delawareans safe.”

Highlights of Mac Leish’s career with the State Police include:

Working with state government to move the State Bureau of Identification to a newer and larger location at the Blue Hen Corporate Center. This provided better working conditions for state police civilian staffers to allow them to carry out the ever increasing demands required by legislation and a growing population.

Colonel Mac Leish also oversaw the creation and implementation of the Delaware Information & Analysis Center, DIAC. Focused on protecting Delaware’s infrastructure and combating terrorism, this renowned fusion center houses all forms of intelligence information in one repository.

Colonel Mac Leish worked with the General Assembly to implement 24 hour aviation coverage in Delaware. Having the ability to bring trauma victims to a medical facility within minutes during overnight hours was a focal point of Mac Leish’s strategic plan to reduce loss of life on Delaware roadways.

Colonel Mac Leish and Attorney General Beau Biden worked collaboratively to create the Child Predator Task Force. This group is focused on protecting our children and patrols the Internet looking for individuals who invite themselves into our homes via computers to victimize our children.

The Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (SOAR) was formed under Colonel Mac Leish’s leadership. This unit is comprised of troopers who monitor convicted sex offenders for compliance and investigate any violations associated with the Sex Offender registry.

Understanding and recognizing the rise in violent crime across the country, Mac Leish saw the need for a Forensic Firearms Services Unit (FFSU). This unit is comprised of troopers and a civilian who are responsible for the forensic examination of weapons, fired bullets, cartridge cases or other ammunition components that have been fired from a specific firearm. This unit has given law enforcement personnel in Delaware and surrounding states the ability to effectively analyze ballistic evidence resulting in higher arrest rates and convictions for gun related crime.

Mac Leish himself views his work on police leadership development as one of his most significant accomplishments. He worked with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), where he served as an Executive Board Member, to develop the Leadership in Police Organization (LPO) program. Over 100 troopers have taken advantage of the course. The program focuses on the cultivation and preparation of future police leaders.

Another achievement came with the formation of the Cultural Diversity Counsel within the State Police. This working group was comprised of both sworn and civilian members of the DSP coming from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. The purpose of this group was to help enrich and enlighten the members of the division in various matters of diversity.