Las Vegas Police Union hits back at NFL over new security rules at Raiders’ stadium
The Las Vegas Police Union has rebutted the NFL's new credentialing policies. The league announced a new series of protocols for police members working at games, which includes officers to submit biometric data, like a photo of themselves, to work in certain areas of the Allegiant Stadium, home to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Steve Grammas, the president of the city's Police Protective Association, has some issues with these new policies.
"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." [H/T TMZ]
Grammas is worried that the information could be stolen and fall:
"In the hands of people who are anti-cop that support a different agenda than what law and order supports." [H/T TMZ]
Grammas says he would prefer that the NFL give police officers wristbands or proxy cards to attend the games instead of requiring biometrics. For now, police will work the Raiders preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 17, as submitting biometric data is not yet a requirement.
However, if the league makes biometric data mandatory, Grammas says he will advise his officers to no longer work the games, which could cause major problems for the Raiders and the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders to name starting QB after next preseason game
The Raiders entered training camp with a quarterback competition between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell. Both players played in the team's first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings and will play against the Dallas Cowboys. Regarding this, coach Antonio Pierce said on Sunday:
"We've got to get ready to play football, and I think we've got enough film. We'll have two games here [by then] to evaluate both quarterbacks to see how they'll play." [H/T ESPN]
In the first preseason game, Minshew went 6-for-12 for 117 yards and one TD, while O'Connell went 7-for-9 for 76 yards. The Las Vegas Raiders will open their 2024 season on the road on Sept. 8 against the LA Chargers. Their home opener is in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers.