Chief of Police Ernest Joseph Leatherbury, Sr.

As a new State Trooper in 1989, I was understandably nervous about my new career. I was part of a new group of troopers that had just graduated from the academy. Having been assigned to Centerville Barrack, my Commander was Lt. Ernest J. Leatherbury. Well, I didn't do so well as a trooper. I made mistakes, but kept going. At some point during the process, I decided to resign. During a meeting, in which I made my intentions known, Lt. Leatherbury said something to me that has stayed with me for a very long time. He said, Trooper Moses, I had you picked out as the best of the bunch. At the time, I was not sure abut my decision to leave the MSP. In the years since, I have often thought of Lt. Leatherbury's kind words. When I heard of his passing, I was taken back to those days. It breaks my heart that I left the Maryland State Police. Even more so, it breaks my heart that I never took the time to thank this very kind man for his encouraging words to me that day. As I remember Lt. Leatherbury, he was a fair man with a high degree of integrity. In my opinion, he was the very essence of what a Maryland State Trooper should be. I regret not having stayed on and following his example.

May he rest with the Lord.

Trooper Peter M. Moses (Resigned).
Former State Trooper MSP.

July 21, 2016