Howard Hayes Schleich

Our loving and caring husband and father, Howard H. Schleich 82, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2025 He was born in Canton, Illinois to William and Alice Schleich. Howard’s family relocated to Tallahassee in 1956 and after graduating from Leon High School in 1960, he went on to earn his degree in Police Administration from Florida State University in 1963 and became a member of Pi Kappa Phi while at Florida State in 1962. He began his law enforcement career as a patrolman with the Florida State University Police Department and in 1967 was appointed by the Governor to serve as a Constable in Sarasota County, Florida. He went on to serve as a uniformed patrolman with the Sarasota Police Department. Upon returning to Tallahassee in 1968 Howard joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Howard served in multiple capacities from Special Agent assigned to the Strategic Intelligence Bureau where he investigated organized and multi-jurisdictional crimes to procure criminal intelligence information throughout the state of Florida. Training Specialist where he developed and directed the Economic Crimes Investigation Training Program. He served a two year term as Special Assistant to the Director of Administrative Intelligence providing coordination and evaluation of technologies designed to support intelligence systems. He served as the Florida Intelligence Liaison to the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to assist with efforts to ensure Public Safety during the 1972 national political conventions in Miami Beach. Howard also served as the Bureau Chief of the Uniform Crime Reports and Statistics Bureau. In this role he was responsible for overseeing the maintenance and enhancement of Florida’s Uniform Crime Data coordinating with over 400 local and state law enforcement agencies. In this role Howard developed an Incident Reporting and Records Management System and served in state and national advisory roles on UCR development, auditing and evaluation. In 1980 Howard joined the Leon County Sheriff’s Department where he served as Bureau Commander of the personnel, Training and Records Bureau, the Judicial Services Bureau and the Corrections Bureau. Howard led the Corrections Bureau for nearly 6 years and was in charge of the largest command in the Sheriff’s Office both in budget and manpower. He was primarily responsible for the design of temporary housing to alleviate overcrowding of the facility and this housing eventually upgraded to a permanent segment of the facility. While in command of the Corrections Bureau Howard implemented several innovative inmate programs which had a positive impact on the management and control of the detention facility. He was a member of the American Jail Association, the Florida Jail Association and was elected as Vice President of that Association when it was formed. Howard served on several committees established by the Florida Sheriffs Association involving county detention facilities. He was appointed by Florida State Senator Bob Crawford as a representative of the Florida Jail Directors to review the State of Florida’s legislative efforts in reducing prison overcrowding. In 1958 at 16 years of age Howard earned his Barber’s license which he kept active throughout his life. In his retirement from Law Enforcement Howard worked as a Barber at Stylish Shears Barber Shop for over 20 years. He enjoyed being at the shop everyday with all of his clients that he called friends. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, William and Alice Schleich. He is survived by his wife Catherine Hunter Schleich, his two children, Allyson Schleich Krause (Matt), and Jeffery Schleich and his granddaughter, Tavianna Schleich. A Celebration of Life will be held at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 2015 Fleischmann Road, Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 2:00pm. Family and friends are invited to join the family following the service for light refreshments and sharing of memories at the fellowship hall at the church. Todd Wahlquist of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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Howard Hayes Schleich

February 8, 1942 - February 4, 2025