NJ Casino Regulators Consider Posting Armed Guards At Two Atlantic City Casinos
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey casino regulators are considering a request from two casinos to post armed guards on their premises, following several high-profile killings.
The state Division of Gaming Enforcement is studying a request from Trump Entertainment Resorts to allow it to post armed guards on the casino floor and in other areas. There have been two fatal carjackings from the parking garage of the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in the last 16 months.
The request, if granted, would enable all 11 casinos to use armed guards, even though executives of several others say they don't favor such a step.
David Rebuck, the division's gaming enforcement director, said the issue poses numerous potential problems.
"The request to permit armed security guards in a casino raises a number of serious legal and policy issues that must be examined," he said in a statement Tuesday, declining further comment.
Trump Entertainment's request was first reported by The Press of Atlantic City. Robert Griffin, the company's CEO, declined comment Tuesday.
Current law prohibits armed guards on casino property— including the casino floor, parking garages and hotel rooms— without written permission from casino regulators.
Atlantic City's casinos use unarmed security guards, unless they choose to hire off-duty police officers on overtime.
Nevada allows armed guards in the casinos.
"It's up to the individual properties whether they want to use armed guards," said Jerry Markling, chief of enforcement for the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Three suspects are in custody, charged with the fatal carjacking last month of 28-year-old Sunil Rattu of Old Bridge from the Taj Mahal garage. His companion, 24-year-old Radha Ghetia of Sayreville, also was shot but is recovering from her wounds.
In May 2010, Martin Caballero of North Bergen was carjacked after dropping off his family at the main entrance and trying to park his vehicle. He was taken from the garage and stabbed to death. Two suspects are awaiting trial in his death.
And in May 2009, Ray Kot, a shift supervisor at the Taj Mahal, was shot to death just off the casino floor by a former customer who said in court he had a long list of grievances against casinos. That killing came less than five months after a suspect in a New York embezzlement case pulled a gun and threatened to kill himself in an office at the Taj Mahal, sparking an 11-hour standoff that included his accidentally firing a shot before he surrendered.
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