Prince George County Announces Appointment of John Leach as Police Chief
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, VA - Prince George County announces the appointment of John Leach as the police chief of the Prince George County Police Department. Leach, who currently serves as a lieutenant with the department, will be sworn in on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Leach brings 33 years of law enforcement experience, including 28 years of service with Prince George County. Before joining the Prince George County Police Department, he served with the Henrico County Sheriff’s Office, the Petersburg Police Department and the Ashland Police Department.
During his tenure in Prince George, Leach has held assignments in patrol, investigations, vice and narcotics (now the Special Investigations Unit), accreditation, and supervisory leadership roles across the department.
He was promoted to detective in the Investigations Unit in 2001; to sergeant in the Vice and Narcotics Unit in 2006; and to lieutenant in 2011. As a supervisor, Leach has overseen both patrol shifts and investigative operations. In 2016, he returned to investigations, where he supervised both the Investigations Unit and the Special Investigations Unit. In 2025, he was reassigned to patrol.
In addition to his law enforcement career, Leach has served as an adjunct professor for 12 years. He holds a master’s degree in disaster science, a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, a minor in leadership studies, and an associate degree in police science. He is also a graduate of the Professional Executive Leadership School at the University of Richmond.
“Chief Leach has served in the Prince George County Police Department for 28 years and has a total of 33 years in law enforcement,” said Kristen Pudlow, Interim County Administrator. “This appointment reflects John Leach’s long record of service, his breadth of experience, and his commitment to the people of Prince George County. We are pleased to have him lead the Police Department and continue to maintain high standards of enforcement.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Prince George County leadership for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving this community,” Leach said. “To the citizens of Prince George County, the police are your community partner and will work tirelessly to that end.”
Leach noted that the department has operated under three core pillars — criminal investigations, highway safety, and community engagement — for the past decade, and he emphasized the importance of continuing to move forward with technology and innovation.
“The Board of Supervisors is confident that John Leach will continue building on the department’s strong foundation and help guide Prince George County forward with integrity and professionalism,” said Robert “Bobby” Cox, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
Leach succeeds former Police Chief W. Keith Early, who retired on July 1, 2026.
Prince George County looks forward to Leach’s leadership as the Police Department continues its commitment to public safety and service to the community.