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Need for a Policing System for Cotton County Casinos

On March 24, 2007, the brand new Kiowa Casino located in Red River was already the 7th casino built in Texoma. 3 of those casinos are under Cotton County's jurisdiction, which is the root of the problem because it could mean that it will add to the responsibility and burden that the sheriff and his small group of law enforcers have to endure.

The only security detail that Kiowa's will provide is the casino security guards, who would only be able to provide security on the casino's premises, like in the parking lot.

According to Cotton County Sheriff Paul Jeffrey, that will be a bad problem like what happened at 2 casinos in the area. Sheriff Jeffrey said that he has noticed an increase in traffic problems and crime in the region. He is now coordinating with the county's tribes to get additional staff for the security in the area.

Oklahoma Highway 36 is under the watch of the Cotton County Sheriff and the Highway Patrol. Jeffrey said that the highway is not built to accommodate heavy Las Vegas style traffic, but rather has only been built to accommodate rural travel. Sheriff Jeffrey wants some of the money that the casinos produce to be allocated in preserving the peace so that they could add more deputies in the area.

With the ongoing casino traffic, there are always some undesirable people that are mixed in with the crowd. The Operating Authority Chairman of the Kiowa Casino Lee Rhoades agreed with Sheriff Jeffrey's observation and said that they are willing to work with the county.

But the way that Rhoades has it layed out, the security of the gambling casino will only be responsible for what is happening on the casino's premises. On the other hand, the Comanche Tribe has their own security force while the Kiowa's do not.

The gambling commission of the casino and the Kiowa Business Committee will have to work out an agreement with Cotton County. One of the solutions that the parties have considered is far cross deputizing, in which county deputies can move freely into the tribal lands.

 

Monday, April 02 , 2007
Victor Copeland