Keller praises cooperation with casino security forces

Las Vegas is the safest tourist destination in the world because of the "symbiotic relationship" between public and private police forces here, says Sheriff Jerry Keller, head of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Speaking at a recent Casino Management Association seminar, Keller said the Las Vegas tourist corridor is safe because the private police forces in the employ of major resort casinos work so well with Metro.

"We probably cooperate better between public and private law enforcement than anywhere else," said Keller. "It is the security counterparts that make this such a safe community."

In fact, the relationship between private security and public police in Las Vegas is so unique that law enforcement officials from other parts of the country come here to study the cooperative relationship, said Keller.

The cooperation takes many forms, he said. Security chiefs from area resorts hold a meeting each month with Metro officers to discuss common problems, crime trends and ways to respond and cooperate, he said. Because the forces work well together, Metro does not have to dedicate as many officers to large Strip events -- such as New Year's Eve or new resort openings -- as other cities, said Keller.

The idea sharing manifests itself in many ways, he said. Keller attributed the idea of Metro bike patrols to the Bally's security force, one of the first security forces to place officers on bikes, he said.

"We didn't create that," said Keller. "Security created that."

He called casino security forces "the inseparable partners of Metro."

At the same seminar, one of those inseparable partners, Michael Burke, director of security and surveillance for the three hotel-casinos in Primm, spoke about the proper role of a casino security force. MGM Grand recently purchased those resorts in its merger with Primadonna Resorts.

Most important, said Burke, is the realization that casino security officers are not outside the law. Like police officers, they have to recognize and respect patron's rights.

"If you don't do the right things, you're going to be held accountable by the courts," said Burke.

He also noted that clear-cut good guy/bad guy situations are rare.

"Unfortunately, what we often deal with day-by-day are cases that are gray," said Burke. "There is no black and white."

He recounted a hypothetical situation in which a security officer is called to a bar to settle a dispute between two patrons. One claims he put a $100 bill on the bar, and another patron picked it up. The second patron claims it was his $100 in the first place. As the second patron gets up to leave, the first shouts for the security officer to detain him.

If the patron is restrained, said Burke, he has to be arrested and charged. But will the first patron be around when his case hits the courts? In other words, would that person fly back to Las Vegas to settle a dispute over $100? Probably not, he said.

Most likely, the case will be dismissed. Then the casino will be open to a false arrest lawsuit.

Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions to the hypothetical situation, said Burke. The best security can do is communicate with the patrons and strive not to become personally involved.

Burke emphasized the need for security officers to remain calm, not to respond to personal comments or remarks and not to personally attack belligerent patrons.

"There are individuals out there willing to spend the rest of their life in prison for killing you because you insulted them," said Burke. "We get the last act, give them the last word. ... He can say anything he wants on the way out as long as he leaves."

Security officers should undergo formal training, and all of a casino's security procedures should be in writing, said Burke. The security department should have a podium on the casino floor and a closed circuit television system that is separate from that used in table game protection.

It's important for casino managers not to use the casino security force for other purposes, such as handing out marketing surveys, counting customers or making runs to the store to pick up supplies for the kitchen.

"Even if they look like they're doing nothing, they're doing something," said Burke.

Keller

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