Prairie Meadows Adds Rapid Response Team to Security Measures

November 1 – Altoona, IA. On October 1, 2017, a gunman opened fire on a crowd from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds of others. In response to that tragic day and other mass shootings throughout the U.S., Prairie Meadows – a property that includes a casino, racetrack, events center, and hotel – created a Rapid Response Team (RRT).

As part of their commitment to guest safety, Prairie Meadows’ security department continuously aims to improve daily operations and quickly address security risks. The specialized RRT Program is designed to provide highly skilled and focused support to the property’s security teams.

Vice President of Security at Prairie Meadows, Clint Pursley stated, “The number of issues necessitating an immediate response is more prevalent today because of the ever-changing climate we live in. As a result, we created a solution in the form of a well-trained Rapid Response Team.”

Prairie Meadows’ RRT, handpicked from internal security officer applicants as well as external applicants, officially launched in July 2018 after months of rigorous training.

“We worked with local law enforcement to develop our training program. Collectively we selected specific training measures commonly utilized by law enforcement that aligned with our needs to create a hybrid program.” explained Pursley.

A report by Washington-based security consultancy AS Solution found the average duration of a shooting rampage is 10 minutes, while it takes law enforcement an average 12 to 15 minutes to arrive at the scene. Having an armed unit on site makes Prairie Meadows better equipped to neutralize a threat before it escalates. MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment created similar response teams this past year.

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