Founding Fathers

Officers James B. Samuels and James W. Price of the Durham Police Department, Edward L. Bass and Thurman E. Brooks of the Shelby Police Department and Oriel H. Leake from the High Point Police Department are formally recognized for their dedication and commitment to successfully establishing The North State Law Enforcement Officers Association.  

Their hard work as a team led to the immensely successful development and advancement of thousands of minority officers throughout North Carolina. 

Their contributions to law enforcement in North Carolina will continue to be recognized for generations.

Officer Leak joined the High Point Police Department in 1943 and was the first black police officer to walk the streets of High Point.  

In 1952, he helped establish the North State Law Enforcement Organization, a statewide group that trained black police officers at a time when they received no training from the departments they worked for. He served until he retired in 1976. 

 On February 20, 1997, the High Point City Council voted to place the name of O.H. Leak on the police department building on Leonard Avenue.