A Providence police detective has been suspended without pay following an alcohol-fueled incident at Bally’s Twin River Casino that saw him threaten staff and clash with responding officers.

Detective Gary Slater visited the Lincoln, Rhode Island property last October and became heavily intoxicated during his visit, according to investigative reporting by Target 12. Casino staff reported that Slater made threats against employees, with one witness telling reporters he “wanted to kill everybody.”

Family members who accompanied Slater attempted to calm the situation. Didn’t work. The detective refused to sign an eviction notice and carried on his aggressive behaviour toward casino personnel. Security called in local police to remove him from the premises.

Confrontation with Fellow Officers

Body camera footage captured Slater’s arrest, showing him swearing at responding officers and questioning their credentials. “How many gun arrests do you have?” he shouted at colleagues, calling them “zeros” and repeatedly citing his 27 years on the force.

The arresting officers made their position clear. Told Slater on camera that he was a “disgrace to the badge.”

Permanent Ban and Suspension

Bally’s Twin River issued a permanent ban following the incident. While no criminal charges were filed, the Providence Police Department conducted an investigation that resulted in Slater’s unpaid suspension.

Officials characterised the removal as “protective custody” rather than an arrest. Slater has since enrolled in a treatment programme while his suspension continues.

The incident highlights the challenges casino security teams face when dealing with intoxicated guests, particularly when those guests are law enforcement personnel. Worth noting how Twin River handled the situation. They prioritised staff safety and followed proper protocols by involving local police rather than attempting to manage the situation internally. Professional response all round.

What the team thinks

Sheena McAllister: This incident highlights why responsible gambling frameworks need robust staff protocols for handling intoxicated patrons, regardless of who they are. The casino’s response appears appropriate, and the lifetime ban sends the right message about zero tolerance for threatening behaviour.

Philippa Ashworth: From a reputational standpoint, Bally’s handled this correctly by not making exceptions for law enforcement. The casino industry has worked hard to position itself as a regulated, professional sector, and consistent enforcement of conduct standards protects that progress.

Sheena McAllister: Exactly right. The regulatory expectation across jurisdictions is that operators protect staff safety first. Training teams to identify problem behaviour early and intervene decisively is core to maintaining licence conditions, and this case demonstrates those protocols functioning as intended.