DCI agent cuts in the cards for Iowa casinos?
Union, lawmaker raise concerns about plan to slash state staff at facilities, which would save industry millions
Apr. 27, 2013
Written by
William Petroski
State lawmakers are planning to dramatically slash the force of state investigative agents at most of Iowa’s casinos — a move that would save the gambling industry $3.7 million annually.
But questions have arisen about whether the changes could jeopardize the state’s ability to detect patrons and dealers trying to cheat at casino table games and slot machines, as well as its ability to prevent thefts, money laundering and other crimes.
There are 108 agents and supervisors from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation working at the 18 state-regulated casinos and three racetracks, which had 22.7 million admissions last year with gross casino revenues of more than $1.4 billion. Under a budget bill in a House-Senate conference committee, the number of DCI agents and supervisors — whose salaries are paid by casino fees — would be reduced to 60 over a three-year period.
A union representing the agents argues the cuts go too far, and warns the plan is a shift toward casinos policing themselves. Meanwhile, a key state senator says he wants to ensure the honesty of Iowa’s gambling industry isn’t shortchanged. The three racetrack casinos, including Prairie Meadows in Altoona, would not be part of the cuts.
Gambling industry officials insist that in-house security employees and off-duty local law enforcement officers can fill any gaps left by departing DCI agents. But Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, chairman of a Senate public safety budget panel, said he expects more committee talks before a final decision is made.
“I just want to make sure that this is not the casinos saying, ‘We want to chop some heads,’ ” Courtney said. One of his concerns, he added, is avoiding situations where “the fox is guarding the chicken house.”
The Iowa Gaming Association, representing the casino industry, has developed the plan in cooperation with top officials at the Department of Public Safety and other state agencies. Iowa’s casinos — some of which have seen flat or declining revenues in recent years — are anxious to implement the plan to improve their financial bottom lines.
DCI Assistant Director Dave Button said the current staffing model dates to 1991, when Iowa became the first state to offer riverboat gambling. Because the riverboats regularly cruised on the Mississippi River, leaving Iowa cities where they were docked, state law enforcement agents were needed to ensure jurisdictional questions didn’t arise.
But with all of Iowa’s casinos now either permanently anchored or operating as land-based gambling facilities, Button said, the number of state agents assigned to them can be reduced without causing problems. He noted that Iowa’s racetrack casinos in Altoona, Council Bluffs and Dubuque each operate with three DCI agents, while all other casinos have six or seven DCI agents.
“There is no integrity issue there” at the racetrack casinos, Button said.
The staffing-reduction proposal would gradually eliminate all lower-ranking DCI agents who now serve in front-line law enforcement roles on casino floors to monitor gambling operations and perform investigative work. The remaining agents would be primarily focused on conducting background investigations on people and companies involved with the casino industry, as well as criminal investigations related to casino gambling.
Most agents whose jobs would be eliminated would either be promoted and remain at the casinos or offered jobs elsewhere in the Iowa Department of Public Safety, such as in narcotics enforcement, general criminal investigation, or with the Iowa State Patrol or the state fire marshal’s office.
Wes Ehrecke, president of the state gaming association, said security staffing at the casinos ranges from about 26 to 60 people at each facility, depending on its size and whether it is open 24 hours.
Some casinos hire off-duty local police and sheriff’s deputies as backup security staffers, and all gambling businesses work with local law enforcement when crimes and other serious incidents occur.
Ehrecke describes the proposed changes in DCI staffing at Iowa’s casinos as the result of “very thoughtful and deliberate discussions” with state officials. He suggests the agency’s realignment simply reflects a “right-sizing” of staffing levels.
Sue Brown, executive director of the State Police Officers Council, which represents DCI agents in collective bargaining, has sent a letter to House members suggesting the cuts are too deep and could hurt Iowa’s gambling industry.
The agents are the only impartial, outside enforcement within the facility to ensure rules are upheld and Iowans are gambling in a fair environment, Brown said. In addition, local police departments are not trained to spot felony violations, she said. One example of such cheating is known as “capping a bet,” which means to place a winning wager on a table game after the outcome is known.
Brown suggested a compromise that would trim the force less deeply, saving the gambling industry $1.9 million instead of $3.7 million.
Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny, chairman of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, said he is probably OK with the plan being considered by state lawmakers.
Regardless of whether the bill passes, all of Iowa’s casinos must submit a security plan approved by state regulators, he noted.
“We don’t have any intention of reducing what we believe is appropriate to satisfy security and integrity,” Lamberti said.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130428/NEWS/304280035/DCI-agent-cuts-in-the-cards-for-Iowa-casinos-?Frontpage
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