Las Vegas police refuse to budge on security measures at Raiders despite rule change
The Las Vegas police department has locked horns with the NFL over new rules. Per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Metropolitan Police Department staff and NFL technical and security personnel held a Zoom meeting on Friday. The attempt failed, and the police department isn’t willing to concede any demands.
Each game in the NFL has security provided by the local police force working overtime. However, starting in 2024, the league is implementing a biometric data collection strategy for the police force. This technology will be utilized at the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium as well.
Last month, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association outlined concerns about the system.
After the meeting, the NFL decreased the retention timeline of biometric data from three years to the end of the season. As per Steve Grammas, the president of the Association, the NFL did not agree to the demands of not obtaining pictures of the officers.
Grammas also said to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, that this matter is far from over and the departments will not comply. The Raiders will play their first home game in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers on September 22.
Why aren’t the Las Vegas police willing to provide security at Raiders’ games?
At the center of the issue is the right to privacy violation that the Las Vegas police fear could come after providing security during a game. In a previous interview with TMZ, Las Vegas Police Protective Association president Steve Grammas made his thoughts clear.
“They're going to take your biometric data -- your face," he said in a video sent to Vegas cops this month. "They're going to use that however they need to. And they're going to extend that to their NFL family partners to use your information should they need to.”
“In the hands of people who are anti-cop that support a different agenda than what law and order supports.”
Previously, the Raiders issued special bands to police officers providing security for easy entry and access to the stadium. As per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Grammas stated that the department wants the same provision to continue.