Influence is a powerful tool. Whether we are inspired by people such as teachers or coaches, there’s always someone to lead the way. For Leslie Malerich, that influence first came from within her family.
Malerich was born in Hammond and grew up in the Region. She graduated from Merrillville High School as the youngest of three siblings. Her siblings helped guide her while growing up.
“They really made me a tough girl,” Malerich said. “When it came to athletics, I followed them around a lot. They definitely helped turn me into a true athlete.”
While she also credits her siblings for drawing her interest to try different clubs and play for the band in high school, their influence on Malerich as an athlete was likely the most significant. She played softball and volleyball and did swimming as a student at Merrillville High School. She was a highly sought-after softball player who eventually continued her career on the field at Florida State University.
Earlier this year, Malerich was inducted into the Florida State University Hall of Fame.
“When my coach called to give me the news, I was in tears,” Malerich said. “It was something that never crossed my mind, so that was a huge accomplishment that I’ll remember forever.”
Outside of Florida State, Malerich was also a member of Team Italy in the Athens 2004 Olympics. She also played on the national team from 2002 to 2010 with Team Italy.
However, Malerich had a desire to develop in more ways than athletics. Growing up, she was intrigued by the idea of becoming a police officer.
“I would always hear stories about my great uncle who was a Louisiana State Trooper,” Malerich said. “He had survived D-Day. Everybody in my family that spoke about him was very proud of what he accomplished. That was part of the reason why I wanted to become an officer.”
The career in law enforcement would start for Malerich with the Griffith Police Department. She worked there for three years before she became a part of the Crown Point Police Department, where she works today.
“I always give the full 100% to any community that I’m serving,” Malerich said. “I love both the Griffith and Crown Point communities, so it’s been a great feeling to help the people here.”
In addition, she currently serves as the student resource officer for Crown Point High School.
Ultimately, this multifaceted journey between athletics and law enforcement has given Malerich a plethora of experiences and lessons to live by. She compares her two passions to giving advice to anybody with a desire to follow in her footsteps.
“There’s always going to be a lot of adversity,” Malerich said. “You have to be able to find a way to get through all of the ups and downs. It’s important to know inside your heart and mind why you’re doing this. In the end, you have to take the good with the bad to make yourself stronger and more successful in the long run.”
For the years to come, Malerich envisions herself continuing to assist the community. She’s looking forward to improving the quality of life in Crown Point, especially in the school system.