Jim Slade, a veteran of more than 25 years in security and surveillance, has been named director of surveillance at Oaklawn Park. Slade's appointment is the first of a number of positions to be filled in anticipation of the games of skill to be added to the Instant Racing gaming at the track. The new games are coming as a result of a citywide election this year.Slade, who cut his teeth in security with a major retailer in Georgia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, entered the surveillance specialty area in Biloxi, Miss., at Isle of Capri Casino, in 1992. After several years as an investigator and supervisor, he became supervisor of surveillance for the Isle of Capri group, training employees for the surveillance departments around the country.Eventually, Slade settled in as the director of surveillance at the Lake Charles Isle of Capri, which involved over 1,700 cameras and the largest casino surveillance staff in Louisiana. Slade's surveillance operation was used by Louisiana State Police in the training of new gaming agents.
Slade and his wife, Donna, have three children: two daughters, Erin and Jessica, who live in Texas and Wisconsin respectively; and one son, Jacob, who will be attending high school in Hot Springs, Ark."We're pleased to add Jim to our growing staff," noted Oaklawn general manager Eric Jackson. "He brings a level of expertise that's new to us at Oaklawn and will be an important addition as we expand the gaming portion of the total Oaklawn experience to our customers. With his assistance, we can continue to maintain the highest level of integrity, something people have learned to count on at Oaklawn."