The Southland Casino Hotel in Arkansas this week announced a donation of nearly $150,000 to the West Memphis Police Department Foundation. The monies will be used for the police department’s citywide camera system, and to fund a real-time crime center.
The equipment includes six Avigilon LPR Cameras, Avigilon LPR Lane Licenses, and other equipment and programming for installation.
“The safety and security of the residents and visitors to West Memphis is vital,” said Southland Casino Hotel President and General Manager Osi Imomoh in a statement. “This donation of cameras to our police department will provide them with the latest in technology to help policing efforts in our community and act as a deterrent to bad actors. We believe this donation aligns with our commitment to be ‘All In’ to help improve and give back to our Mid-South community.”
Southland Casino Hotel is owned and operated by Delaware North.
West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon stated that the donation will bolster the city’s safety initiatives.
“This remarkable contribution showcases the true spirit of community partnership as we work together to create a safer, more secure future for all our residents,” McClendon said.
The donation is Southland’s latest to the city and its police department, part of a longstanding relationship to improve the quality of life in West Memphis.
Southland Director of Security Joe Baker noted that the donation helps the city and provides the casino with another level of protection.
“This project will provide the West Memphis Police Department and our security team with vital information needed should a criminal act happen on our property,” Baker said. “This system will also alert us to potential bad actors who enter our grounds before they have the chance to commit a crime so we can proactively keep our guests safe. Removing the anonymity of criminals who would potentially target our guests is a powerful tool in incident reduction at Southland.”
