- Las Vegas’ top police officer evaluated the behavior of football stars
- Lieutenant Kendall Bell warned players about drug use and extortion
- Players were closely monitored during their stay in Sin City
A top Las Vegas cop has applauded the off-field behavior of NRL stars in Sin City, saying there was no problem with the players.
Lieutenant Kendall Bell, who was in charge of security at this year’s Super Bowl, has liaised with stars and officials from the four NRL clubs involved in the season-opening double header.
Before the matches, he delivered a cautionary message, advising players to enjoy Las Vegas responsibly while avoiding the risks associated with prostitution and drugs.
Bell even made his phone number available to players and told them to call him if they were in a dangerous situation, but luckily he didn’t get a single call.
“There haven’t been any problems,” Bell said The Sydney Morning Herald.
Lieutenant Kendall Bell said the NRL players had an impeccable record in Las Vegas
Bell has made his personal number available to players and says he has not received a single call (Photo: Manly’s Tom Trbojevic plays against Souths in Vegas)
‘Everyone was respectable. They did everything we liked. I hope they had fun too.
“I’d like them to enjoy themselves and do it responsibly.”
Bell had warned clubs and players about the pitfalls of Vegas, including extortion attempts, sex traps and deadly drugs.
Of particular concern was the inadvertent use of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic drug used for severe pain and known to be 50 to 100 times more powerful than heroin.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller that is often prescribed for severe pain relief, such as chronic pain or recovery after surgery. It is also sometimes used in anesthesia.
The drug is approximately 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, and its misuse, whether through improper prescription use or illegal distribution, carries a significant risk of overdose and respiratory distress, which can lead to fatalities.
Research has shown that the drug kills about 70,000 people annually in the United States and that its potency increases when mixed with alcohol or other recreational drugs.
‘I would like to think (they took my advice). Either that, or they’re all grown men, they know what’s expected of them,” Bell said.
Bell had previously warned players about the pitfalls of Vegas, including drugs and prostitution
The Las Vegas agent said the players and fans were welcome to return next year
“There’s also what they heard from their teams. They didn’t want to come here and do a bad job for themselves, for their team and for their country.
“And maybe a little bit (was due to) what we were talking about. Whatever path they chose, they did a great job.”
Bell said the players and fans were welcome to return to the city in the future.