Officer Down Memorial Page - http://www.odmp.org

Deputy Sheriff Richard O. Slates | Kern County Sheriff's Office, California
Kern County Sheriff's Office, California

Deputy Sheriff

Richard O. Slates

Kern County Sheriff's Office, California

End of Watch: Wednesday, December 21, 1966

Biographical Info

Age: 34
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Fall
Date of Incident: December 21, 1966
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Deputy Richard Slates died in a fall during a search and rescue mission at the Death Valley National Monument.

Deputy Slates was assisting in the recovery of the body of a 19-year-old male on the side of Telescope Peak. The hiker plunged 1,000 feet to his death while descending the peak. The deputy came up missing and his body was found in in nearly the same position on the side of the peak.

Deputy Slates was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.