Columbus Dispatch...
Policing casinos
The State Highway Patrol has the professionalism and independence needed  
September 21, 2011 

Ohio officials must decide which state police agency will provide security for the first couple of years on the floors of its four new casinos. The turnaround time is tight: The first, Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, is expected to open in March; Columbus’ casino opening will be in late 2012.

The state is fortunate to have two exemplary candidates vying for the job: the State Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, known as BCI. 

Both are law-enforcement organizations that have statewide jurisdiction; both have adapted their training and technology over the years to keep up with emerging trends in crime. The commission will hear presentations from both agencies in the next week or so. 

The Dispatch believes the State Highway Patrol is the agency best prepared to step into the role. It has the resources, manpower and history to absorb a major new responsibility. 

It already has its own criminal-intelligence unit, crime lab and a 24/7 communications center. The force has more than 1,300 troopers who can be deployed flexibly. 

The patrol has a long tradition of professionalism and integrity. Though it serves at the pleasure of the governor and his appointed Public Safety director, historically it has operated independently of political interference. That’s crucial for the future of Ohio gambling, which must be regulated fairly and objectively, unswayed by the deep pockets of gambling interests. 

Public Safety officials say troopers are ready to undergo a six-week gaming-agent training that is offered by Spectrum Gaming Group, the state’s hired consultant on gambling. Patrol officials also plan to visit other casino states to examine the best practices of agents who police their gaming floors, including Missouri, where the state highway patrol has a gaming division. 

After the first two years, the casino commission must decide whether to start a new casino-policing agency. If the experience with the State Patrol has been satisfactory, it might make sense simply to preserve the arrangement. 

Because Ohio is new to casino gambling, it is vitally important that the state get these details right at the start. 

Read it at the Columbus Dispatch