Published on: March 13, 2026, 01:31h.
Updated on: March 13, 2026, 01:31h.
- Rhode Island detective suspended post drunken altercation at casino captured on bodycam
- Initial arrest of officer downgraded to protective custody by police
- Internal review finds actions breached Providence Police Department protocols
A seasoned detective from the Providence Police Department (PPD) in Rhode Island has been placed on unpaid suspension after reportedly threatening to “kill everyone” at Bally’s Twin River Casino, according to a police report reviewed by Target 12, WPRI’s investigative team.
Detective Gary Slater was off duty when he visited the casino with family members last October. Newly surfaced bodycam footage reveals the officers arriving as security attempted to remove the inebriated officer from the location and issue him a lifetime ban.
“He was threatening to kill everyone here,” an employee states in the footage.
Slater can be seen refusing to accept the permanent ejection notice, ripping it up while using offensive language.
‘This Could Be Headline News!’
The police subsequently escorted Slater and his party out of the casino and to the parking lot. As he was walked out, Slater made derogatory comments about the Lincoln police.
“They’re all nothing,” he claims.
“How many arrests for firearms have you made?” he challenges.
Eventually, Slater was handcuffed and taken into custody.
“I haven’t done anything,” Slater expressed to the officers. “You followed me to arrest me, a fellow officer.”
“You’re an embarrassment to that badge, friend,” responded the arresting officer.
“Yeah, I am an embarrassment. Twenty-seven years! You’ve done nothing!”
At one moment, an officer is heard saying that another Providence officer could “make the news.”
While the footage indicates the officers aimed to charge Slater with disorderly conduct, the situation was subsequently adjusted to “protective custody,” which carries no criminal implications and leaves no record.
Administrative Review
Nevertheless, the incident initiated an internal administrative review within the PPD. Officials examined the body-camera footage and additional evidence over several months to assess whether Slater’s actions were in violation of PPD policies.
A police spokesperson, Kristy dos Reis, informed Target 12 that the investigation, spanning roughly four months, concluded Slater’s conduct did not align with the department’s code of conduct or the standards expected of officers, leading to his suspension.
Slater, whose brother is State Rep. Scott Slater (D-10th district), the Deputy Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, has expressed regret for his actions and has entered a treatment program following the incident.