Security is top of mind at Connecticut’s two casinos after a gunman opened fire on the crowd of an outdoor music festival in Las Vegas, but the news is leaving some people in southeastern Connecticut on edge.
"My sons go to country concerts all the time. What it makes me think is it could have been my own son," one resident Donna Bagg, of Ledyard, said.
The mother is worried about going to a massive venue that’s home to entertainment, gaming, dining and more.
"A lot of people are not locals and just the unpredictability of society today," Bagg said.
Kathy Driscoll, of Gales Ferry, said she won’t let what happened in Las Vegas intimidate her, but she is heartbroken that the spirit of concerts might change.
"We’re going to have to have people come in under metal detectors and be watched that carefully," Driscoll said.
Security is always on Donald Cornish’s mind, who said he works in the poker room at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
"I’ve been in the poker room where there’s been disgruntled players and they’ve been obtained within minutes," Cornish said.
State and tribal police are on site at the casino and fast acting, according to Cornish. Security is even tighter at events, he added.
"They pat you down, they check your purses. I’ve gone there before I’ve worked there, they’ve checked under my car for anything. When security is heightened, they’re really on the ball, pretty much," Cornish said.
Ashley Polo, spokesperson for Foxwoods Resort Casino released a statement that reads, “The safety of our guests and team members is of paramount importance to Foxwoods Resort Casino. Foxwoods has always placed a strong focus on security through random trunk checks, screening and metal detectors at concerts, video surveillance and dedicated security personnel and Tribal Police officers. We are deeply saddened to learn of this unfortunate tragedy and our thoughts are with the families and all those in Las Vegas at this difficult time.”
Kevin Brown, chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment Management Board released a statement that said, “While there are no words to help comfort those impacted by last night’s horrific incident, our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones effected by this tragedy. Unfortunately, we are reminded that any place people gather, such as the concert venue last night, can be a target for these extremely rare acts of violence. Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, across all of our properties, takes the matter of safety – that of our employees and guests – as the number one priority.
With a dedicated Tribal Council, including former military and public safety experts, leading the way, we have put in place highly trained police and surveillance teams including former members of the Connecticut SWAT unit. Our Public Safety team has for years had proactive measure in place including 24/7 indoor and outdoor police patrols, as well as a growing K-9 unit who specialize in multiple forms of screenings and detection. While we do not post all the measures in place, please know that our team continuously reviews and re-evaluates security protocol to ensure those who visit us are always in a safe environment.”
