Paul Leslie graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, Security Police. He began his civilian Law Enforcement career with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (FL) in Corrections before he graduated from the Sarasota Law Enforcement Academy in 1997. He spent the next 24 years with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (FL) in Law Enforcement.
He was assigned as an FTO/DTO, Crime Suppression Team, K-9 Unit/Trainer, Undercover Narcotics/HIDTA Task Force, Postal Interdiction Task Force, EVOC/PIT/Pursuit Driving Instructor. He was a supervisor of those units and is also a Certified Public Manager through Florida State University.
Paul taught Law Enforcement basic academy training at Polk State College, Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety as an adjunct professor. Following his retirement in May of 2022, he worked as a Probation Parole Officer with the Tennessee Department of Correction for 2 years, before coming to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
He is married and has one adult son and three dogs.