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Evidence Tapes

By Jim Goding

Tapes containing recordings of gaming violations or criminal activity must be released immediately to law-enforcement agencies in order to properly prosecute the case.

Such releases are done, after notification of the Director, to the Security Manager on duty. It is the job of Security to properly secure and document physical evidence. It is part of their job as liaison to law enforcement. However, original tapes still are never released without the permission of the Director, or at least of a Supervisor with notification to the Director, or if he cannot be reached, the Director’s immediate senior in the chain of command.

Prior to the release of any tape, a complete copy of the incident must be dubbed for Surveillance records. A second dub should be made for Security. A third dub may be made at the request of Gaming Control or other law enforcement agents. The tape kept by Surveillance is used for review if the case should go to court, in order to refresh the memory of the Investigator who will testify. It is often a year or more before a case actually makes it to court. A copy of the original reports should be filed with the dubbed copy, to serve as the witness’s “notes” which he may carry with him into court.

Any tape which is to be turned over to Security as evidence, for release to law enforcement, or as possible evidence in a civil suit, should have its recording tab broken out to prevent accidental erasure.

It is the Surveillance Investigator’s responsibility to ensure that his or her relief is fully briefed on any incident involving gaming violations or criminal activity. This includes all pertinent tapes (or copies of the pertinent activity) being available for the relieving investigator, supervisor or the Director’s review, together with hard copies of any reports.

Exceptions to the above policy may arise. In the event the Investigator feels, for any reason, a particular tape should not be released, the Director of Surveillance is to be advised immediately, before outside law enforcement agents are aware of the tape.

Tapes which are released to Security for evidence may include footage of theft, embezzlement, cheating or other illegal activity. If employee discipline (such as suspension or termination) or any arrest is to occur, the tape should be secured. The Director will decide from there, based on written reports.

No original tapes are to be released without the approval, at least by telephone, of the Surveillance Director. No copies of tapes are to be released except to authorized personnel, and never without Supervisor or Director approval and a written record of transfer.

Copyright © 1998, 2002 by Jim Goding. All rights reserved. Duplication in any form, electronic or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author is forbidden, is a violation of the proprietary rights of the author and is actionable under law. This article may be purchased for a nominal fee by clicking on the following link.

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