The Las Vegas Police Union provided Athlon Sports with a brief update on a security disagreement between the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the NFL.
Per an August report in USA Today, police threatened to stop working Las Vegas Raiders games after the league adopted a new security policy that required gameday staff to upload biometric data via an app before gaining access into a stadium.
President of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Steve Grammas said officers were worried about data, specifically, digital images of faces, falling into the hands of people who are “anti-cop” on the app.
Per an Aug. 27 report by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Grammas said he, LVMPD staff, and representatives from the league met on a Zoom call in late August to discuss the policy.
The NFL offered to destroy the biometric data at the end of the season instead of retaining it for three years after an officer last works a game.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Grammas said after the meeting that police would not submit to the league’s revised requirement.
It was unclear if the NFL would budge on the matter or prohibit police from gaining access without the data, thus allowing Raiders’ games to be played without proper security at the events.
The Raiders did not play a home game until Sept. 22 when they hosted the Carolina Panthers.
Athlon Sports reached out to Grammas to ask for an update as to whether LVMPD officers were working Raiders’ games. Grammas said officers are working the games with wristbands like they had in the past.
“Where we stand today is where we have been,” Grammas replied via email. “None of our officers are submitting anything to the NFL for their protocols. Our officers arrive at the games to work, are provided a wristband, and work the event.”
The Raiders have hosted two home games so far this season. Las Vegas will play its third game at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
