The National Football League’s new security measures have met with fierce criticism from police in one of the league’s largest cities.
Las Vegas police are threatening to boycott Raiders work games if the NFL’s new measures remain in place.
“We are very concerned about something the NFL is trying to enforce… They have even gone a step further,” Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, told TMZ Sports.
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General view of the field before the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the New Orleans Saints at Allegiant Stadium on September 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today’s game will be the first National Football League game played at Allegiant Stadium. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Originally, Gammas said, the NFL had its officials “sign an agreement that they would release them from any liability should anything happen to them during the course of a game,” but that rule was then “repealed.”
However, the NFL will collect security officers’ “biometric data – your face – and use it as needed.”
“And they’re going to extend that to their NFL family partners so they can use your information if they need to… That creates a lot of places where your biometric data could be exposed to a lot of people you might not want,” Gammas said.
Grammas read aloud what he said was the NFL policy that “permits the collection, use, retention and disclosure of biometric data by and among members of the NFL family and its accreditation providers, including Accredit Solutions Inc. and Wicket LLC.” He considered this a major security risk.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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“We don’t know who all of these people are, but I’m sure if you’re like me, you don’t want biometrics getting into the hands of people you don’t know. That could get into the hands of people who are anti-police and have an agenda other than law and order. And I don’t think I want my biometrics getting into the hands of people just because I wanted to work an overtime game or be on the field during a football game. So until that gets resolved, we’re going to continue to come to you and let you know that you need to know what rights you’re giving up. You want us to work and secure the facility, then we’ll do our job. But I don’t have to give my biometrics to the NFL just to do that.”
Grammas said there have been calls to go back to the original process of simply giving officers a bracelet with the appropriate identification, but he “fears that the agency will bow to the NFL’s guidelines.”
“We have had productive discussions with the LVPPA and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department regarding our modernized, secure credential system for all employees,” the NFL said in a statement. “The credential system will improve safety and security in our stadiums and we look forward to working with all parties involved to address any questions or concerns raised.”
According to Sports Business Journal, the rule would go into effect in the first week of the preseason. The Raiders have not yet played a home game, but will host the Cowboys and 49ers in the preseason before starting the regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.
Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, will host 15,000 veterans and their families for Gratitude Day. (Getty Images)
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Their first regular season home game won’t be until Week 3 when they host the Carolina Panthers. Allegiant Stadium hosted Super Bowl LVIII in February.
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