A Missouri lawmaker has warned police officers not to work for unregulated slot machine operators such as Torch Electronics. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Louis County Legislative Representative Justin Sparks, who is a police officer himself, has expressed concern about cops working overtime for companies like Torch Electronics, which operates a disorderly ring of slot machines in Missouri.
Sparks (R-Wildwood) said Thursday:
“If they do, I would say they should stop immediately.”
Sparks considers this to be a conflict of interest and possibly illegal, as it is not mandatory for slot machine companies to pay dividends “or contribute to state funds that support education and veterans’ care.”
No stranger to legal troubles, Torch currently has two ongoing federal lawsuits regarding gambling machines. Although there are no rules against a company like Torch hiring police, the Missouri Highway Patrol prohibits its troopers from working in “any establishment where gambling is the primary business.”
From Maplewood Dining Center in Missouri, Police Chief Matt Negar said via email: “There are no Maplewood police officers employed or authorized to work off-duty in a secondary job with Torch Electronics or any other similar toy company.”
Torch herself has a harassment case, which was filed against state authorities after the Missouri Highway Patrol began investigating allegations of illegal gambling, which will go to trial Aug. 1.
