CRIME-BUSTING ANOTHER NOTCH ON SENIOR'S BELT.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret Senior columnist

It's not easy to pin Bob Slade down these days. Scheduled appointments may have to be aborted because he is out on a crime scene for hours on end. Sometimes all day.

The former Fox Airport general manager is now a reserve peace officer with the Kern County Sheriff's Department in Rosamond, spending a lot of his time crime-busting just like the paid professionals.

A beeper and cell phone keep him in touch with the department. He is on duty three or four days a week, occasionally more often.

One of his jobs is doing probation searches. Most of the time this is just routine but on a recent search he unexpectedly discovered a methamphetamine lab.

``There I was way out in the tules,'' he said. ``I had one guy, in cuffs, face down on the sofa, and I couldn't leave him, not even to call for back-up. I did manage it, though, and when the other deputies showed up, it turned out they'd been trying to get some concrete evidence on this operation for months.''

That investigation kept Slade occupied all day, as did a shooting the day before.

He loves what he does as a reserve sergeant but claims reserve peace officers and volunteer firefighters don't get nearly as much recognition as they deserve.

``You know, we wear the same uniform and badge as the regulars and can do everything they do,'' he said. ``We just don't get paid for it. We take all the same risks. We get shot at too. It's the same with reserve firefighters. They enter burning areas to effect rescues just like the regulars, but nobody pays attention to any of that.''

Slade underwent training at the Rio Hondo Police Academy in Whittier and the Cerro Coso Reserve Peace Officer Academy in California City in 1993 and 1994.

Slade also carries a gun and has to qualify on the firing range regularly. Has he ever had to use it?

``You mean, did I ever shoot anybody? No,'' he said with a laugh, ``but I've been ready to. I've pulled it more than once when the need arose, but so far, I've been lucky. This life does get pretty exciting sometimes.''

Slade is an energetic go-getter. He is a past president and life member of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, committee member of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade and Rosamond's 1990 honorary mayor. He managed Fox Airport for nine years.

His diverse other activities include being a movie extra, doing commercials, officiating at weddings as the minister of record and collecting boats.

A pilot himself, at Fox he was responsible for the early air races, the frequent air shows and the orchestration of other projects geared to attract the public and get the airport wider name-recognition.

His latest craft is a pontoon boat.

``You know what a boat is? It's a hole in the water that you pour money into,'' he quipped.

``I take it up to Isabella, I've had it up to the Sacramento River and other places like Lake Havasu and I really enjoy it,'' he said. ``I'd say I go fishing but I don't catch anything. It's the same with hunting. I make the trip but I don't bag anything.''

He gets plenty of exercise as a reserve peace officer but other than that his attitude about keeping fit is casual. He walks a treadmill but he has positioned it in front of the television so he can watch the news and drink coffee at the same time.

The Milwaukee, Wis.,-born Slade has traveled extensively in his lifetime, both as a reservist in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command from 1955 to 1969, and as a civilian.

His active duty was in the Marianas, Japan and Alaska.

His organization memberships are many. Included are: director, Rosewood Hills Retirement Center; the Rosamond Exotic Feline Breeding Compound; American Cancer Society; Edwards Air Force Base Historical Foundation; American Red Cross; president of the Edwards Civilian-Military Support Group; member since the 1960s of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; California Reserve Officers Association; and the California Narcotics Officers Association.

Since 1996 he has been an independent contractor for the state Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Automotive Repair.

``We check out and evaluate repair stations, their service, maintenance and record-keeping,'' he said. ``We try to ferret out the gyp artists who sell you repairs you don't really need.''

LANCASTER - Here are menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk, for the suggested congregate donation of $2.

Monday: Closed for Presidents' Day.

Tuesday: Chili egg puff, chili beans, Italian vegetables, tossed salad, citrus sections.

Wednesday: Braised beef over noodles, spinach, tossed salad, apple juice, banana.

Thursday: Teriyaki chicken, noodles Romanoff, Normandy vegetables, garden salad, ice cream.

Friday: Spanish rice casserole, refried beans, peas, lettuce and tomato salad, juice, jello w/pears.

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Photo

PHOTO Bob Slade, a reserve peace officer with the Kern County Sheriff's Department, says reserves don't get the recognition they deserve.

Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News