Page 10 - Security Today, March 2020

The Open Platform
The Chickasaw Nation standardizes video technologies to secure one of the world’s largest casinos
By Ralph C. Jensen
The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized, independent Native American nation located in south-central Oklahoma. The nation’s territory covers more than 7,600 square miles and is home to a population of nearly 70,000.
The nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic and talented people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. Since the 1980s, tribal govern- ment has focused on building an economically diverse base to support programs and services for its people. The structure of the current government encourages and supports infrastructure for strong business ventures and a thriving tribal economy.
The Chickasaw Nation is a champion of using technology and dynamic business strategies to meet their goals. This support of infrastructure is evident in the nation’s proactive deployment of technology to help assure the safety and security of its citizens and visitors.
Kenny Mayfield, director of surveillance for the Chickasaw
Nation, has been with them for more than 13 years. Nicholas Burger is the senior surveillance manager for the nation, working with Mayfield on designing, deploying and supporting the na- tion’s video security and surveillance systems.
Mayfield, Burger and their teams manage video systems for 153 sites, covering everything from hospitals and pharmacies to schools, child and daycare centers, retail sites, cultural and his- torical centers, as well as more than 20 casinos and gaming facili- ties. The Chickasaw Nation’s police force works closely with the surveillance team as well. Currently, the nation has more than 14,000 cameras deployed and that number continues to grow.
A Need to Standardize
When Mayfield joined the team, the nation had a multitude of disparate surveillance systems in use. The systems of various fa- cilities and organizations were not able to integrate with each oth- er, and system use was difficult and fragmented. Some large facili- ties had multiple, dissimilar video systems within themselves.
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CASINO SECURITY