FOLEY - Chief David Wilson announced on Monday, June 19, that Detective John Gleaton would retire from law enforcement on Friday, June 23. After retiring from the police force, Gleaton will be taking a position on OWA’s security team.

“We’re very honored to have worked with him,” Wilson said. “And we’re actually tickled to death to have him working at OWA with us moving forward in the future.”

On June 23, the Police Department conducted an Honor Walk in celebration of Gleaton’s accomplishments while on the force and his retirement looking forward. During the ceremony, Gleaton was presented with a shadowbox commemorating his time on the force, a plaque with his photo to hang upon the wall alongside those who have retired before him, and many heartfelt goodbyes from his fellow coworkers, friends, and family in attendance.

“I am going to miss all of the friends I have made at Foley,” Gleaton said. “The City of Foley is the best place that I have ever worked, they have been extremely good to me, and I will always regard the City of Foley as an example of how to do things right by both how employees and the public are treated.”

Though Foley was not the first city that Gleaton worked for, he “saved the best for last,” said Wilson. “We are honored to have worked with him, and we’re going to miss him.”

“This is a great place, with great people, and I’m honored to have worked with each and every one of you,” Gleaton said, before shaking hands with Wilson and having his memorial shadowbox presented to him, after which Gleaton hung his plaque upon the wall and walked out of the Foley Police Department, officially beginning his retirement.