A Las Vegas police union has raised concerns about a new NFL policy that requires security guards at Raiders games to share a photo for facial recognition purposes, urging officers to think twice before complying with the policy.
Typically, officers working overtime as security at Raiders games were given a wristband that gave them access to different areas of the field and stadium, said Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association.
But now the NFL requires a photo of every police officer. This will be used for “identification purposes when a person steps up to a scanner to verify who the person is and whether they have access to the designated area,” said Tim Schlittner, NFL communications director, in an email.
In a video distributed via email to Police Protective Association members, Grammas read a disclosure of the new policy, which requires participants in the new credential program to consent to the “collection, use, storage and sharing of biometric data by and among members of the NFL family and their credential providers.”
“I’m sure if you’re anything like me, you don’t want biometric data to get into the hands of people you don’t know,” Grammas said in the video.
Concerns that data will fall into the wrong hands
Grammas told the Review-Journal that he was particularly concerned that this data – especially photos of police officers – could fall into the hands of “anti-cop” people who would then be able to “target and harass police officers simply for doing their job.”
If the NFL sticks to its new policy, Grammas said he will hold talks with those responsible “to make it very clear to them what they are getting into.”
However, the decision depends on what the individual officers are comfortable with, Grammas said. Overtime for security work is not mandatory for officers, but voluntary.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Department said Sheriff Kevin McMahill “supports the Las Vegas Police Protective Association’s position against the proposed changes to NFL accreditations” and that the department is currently working with the NFL on a solution.
Metro confirmed that security officers will continue to provide security at the Raiders’ preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday.
The North Las Vegas Police Department said it does not currently have officers working overtime to provide security at NFL games and therefore has no comment on the policy. The Henderson Police Department did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
“I think the Raiders support us,” Grammas said. He stressed that the association has a problem with the NFL, not with the team in particular. “They’re great people,” he said.
“Improve security”
A Raiders spokesman declined to comment, but Schlittner said the NFL has had “productive discussions with the LVPPA and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department about our modernized, secure authorization system for all employees.”
“The accreditation system will increase security in our stadiums,” he said.
Some clubs are already using the system in preparation for the season,” says Schlittner. In future, accreditation holders of all 32 teams will have to submit a photo in advance.
“We recognize the importance of our public safety partners and appreciate their efforts to ensure a safe gaming environment,” Schlittnner said.
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