The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) today highlighted the progress of a coordinated law enforcement initiative to assess and closely monitor the public safety impact of gaming facilities in Massachusetts cities and towns. This comprehensive research project is being conducted in coordination with local police agencies and focuses on communities that will host gaming facilities, as well as its surrounding communities.

As the state’s first expanded gaming facility Plainridge Park Casino prepares to open in June of 2015, the initial phase of this public safety research project is concentrating its efforts in Plainville and the surrounding areas. Law enforcement data and analysis expert Christopher Bruce is leading the execution and coordination of this initiative. Mr. Bruce is working closely with the MGC and police executives in the Plainville region to establish baseline levels of public safety activity to prepare for an accurate assessment of potential post-facility changes.

“The Gaming Act establishes a very clear mandate to prioritize the mitigation of potential impacts from gaming facilities,” said Commissioner Gayle Cameron. “This critical public safety initiative will provide the necessary information to allow for data-driven policing strategies and, most importantly, establish a cooperative effort across participating police agencies that will advance coordination and information sharing concerning public safety matters related to gaming facilities. I would like to extend the Commission’s sincere appreciation to the various local police agencies for their commitment and cooperation with this project.”

“The Plainville Police Department is pleased to actively participate in this important research initiative, said Plainville Police Department Chief James Alfred. “We are focused on laying the groundwork to ensure maximum public safety services for our community and to support future data-driven policing strategies.”

As part of the MGC’s overall Research Agenda, this public safety-focused initiative will assess baseline data for each gaming facility, and will continually collect data and conduct analysis post-opening for each facility. This project will largely concentrate on the following areas:

• Assess changes in public safety issues specifically in Massachusetts communities to host a gaming facility, and surrounding communities, to include crime, calls for service, traffic and officer activity. Assessment will be made in overall volume, spatial patterns, temporal patterns, and other relevant characteristics.

• Analyze new public safety matters that may arise after a facility opens, to include both qualitative and quantitative research.

• Establish a uniform identification across police agencies to flag “gaming-related” incidents in record management systems

• Develop an automated process for extracting “gaming-related” incidents for record management systems

• Training for local police agencies on the established system

Christopher Bruce has been a crime analyst for 20 years. Mr. Bruce is an IACA Certified Law Enforcement Analyst. He is also the past president of the International Association of Crime Analysts and the Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts. Currently, Mr. Bruce is an Analytical Director for Data-Driven Approaches to Crime & Traffic Safety Program. Previously, he has held various positions in crime analysis and information systems at both the Danvers Police Department and the Cambridge Police Department.