Falls Police will station newly created detective's post at Seneca Niagara
The Niagara Falls City Council has approved a plan to place a full-time city police detective at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino.
City lawmakers unanimously Ok'd the proposal which calls for the Falls Police Department to create a 'Casino Unit' which would provide 'law enforcement services at the casino.' The contractual agreement between the city and the Seneca Nation of Indians calls for the detective to act 'with the same degree of independence that he or she has off the territory of the (nation).'
'It's the same concept as our school resource officers (SROs),' Mayor Robert Restaino said. 'They have a similar arrangement with Buffalo Police at their casino there.'
Restaino said the agreement followed negotiations that started in December as part of a 'conversation' with tribal leaders on the ability of the city to provide services to the casino.
They wanted to have some (law enforcement) help that was more proactive rather than the responsive help we currently provide (with police patrol officers),' the mayor said. '(The detective) will be able to do anything they would in the normal course of their duties, but on casino property.'
Restaino said the Seneca Tribal Council approved the contract with the city last week.
The contract calls for the nation's gaming corporation to reimburse the city for the full amount of the detective's salary, fringe benefits and any required overtime.
The detective's annual salary is set at just over $97,000.
Restaino said the detective will be 'stationed full time' at the casino.
He said the agreement is part of an effort to build close ties between the city, the Senecas and the casino.
'I've been very clear since I was elected, that I've tried to cultivate a much better relationship with the nation and the casino,' the mayor said.
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