Drunk Off-Duty Detective Threatens Casino Patrons, Bodycam Footage Finally Released

A Providence police detective has been suspended without pay following a drunken incident at Bally’s Twin River Casino in Rhode Island, where bodycam footage shows him threatening other patrons and clashing with attending officers.

Gary Slater, an off-duty detective with the Providence Police Department, was arrested at the Lincoln casino in October after allegedly making threats against other customers. The incident only came to light after local outlet Target 12 fought successfully to obtain bodycam footage that authorities initially refused to release.

Protective Custody Instead of Arrest

The footage reveals a Lincoln police officer downgrading Slater’s arrest to “protective custody,” effectively keeping the incident off his criminal record. Police had initially blocked release of the video, claiming it would “deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication.”

Target 12’s public records complaint eventually forced disclosure of the footage. It shows Slater refusing to sign an eject form from the casino and behaving confrontationally toward officers. The video also captures his brother, state Representative Scott Slater, apologising to officers and requesting lenient treatment.

Worth knowing: having a state legislator as your brother apparently doesn’t hurt when you’re having a rough night.

Detective Admits Wrongdoing

Speaking to Target 12 last week, Detective Slater acknowledged his behaviour that night, describing himself as “belligerent and intoxicated.” He confirmed that he has since apologised to the officers involved in the incident.

Providence police completed an internal review of the matter, concluding that Slater failed to uphold the department’s code of conduct.

He is currently serving a suspension without pay, though the length of the suspension has not been publicly disclosed.

The case raises real questions about whether off-duty law enforcement receive preferential treatment in incidents at casinos and other licensed venues. Had Slater been charged criminally rather than placed in protective custody, the outcome could have been significantly different for his career prospects. Protective custody sounds a lot softer than criminal charges, and in practice, it is.