Philly Cop Allegedly Found Card-Counting
By Wyatt Earp | September 30, 2010
There is a strange karma in the Philadelphia Police Department. Almost immediately after an officer does a fantastic job – like this one – there is another officer who embarrasses the rest of us.
Take this officer, for example. A 32-year veteran of the force, he was allegedly found with a card-counting device inside the Parx Casino this week. The officer promptly retired in an attempt to save his pension.
A veteran Philadelphia police officer was caught using a card-counting device earlier this week at the Parx casino, law-enforcement sources said yesterday. The cop, identified by the sources as John Gallagher, 56, has not yet been criminally charged in connection with the incident.
A State Police official said that the investigation into Gallagher’s alleged misdeed is ongoing, but noted that information about the incident would soon be released. Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said the department learned yesterday that the State Police were “investigating a member of the department for committing a crime outside Philadelphia.”
The department launched its own Internal Affairs investigation of the incident, he said. Gallagher, who joined the force in 1978 and spent a portion of his career working in the Traffic Unit, abruptly retired Tuesday.
Throwing away a 32-year career for using a card counter? Brilliant!
Topics: Philly, The Job | 14 Comments »
September 30th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Desperation??? Over his head in debt???
September 30th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Is it in fact a crime to use a card counting device ?
I was under the impression that while it wasn’t illegal to count cards in your head, if the casino suspected, they could ask you to leave. (translation : boot yo ass out).
Does it depend on the device ?
What about a guy standing behind you on a ladder with a bullhorn yelling “PLUS EIGHT ” ?
Is that a no-no ?
September 30th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
My father could count in his head and by the time they figured out that he was a ‘counter’, he’d have already won 1 or 2K.
September 30th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Old NFO – Only sane reason I can think of.
JT – It’s illegal to have the device in PA if I remember correctly.
Piper – Good for what ails ya!
September 30th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
There are people in my family that just lose their minds when it comes to gambling. Personally, I never saw the attraction. Why take money I have (a sure thing) and bet on an unsure thing?? Doesn’t make sense to me. Why risk losing what you absolutely have for a small chance at what could be?
September 30th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
A lot of people forget how those casinos pay the electric bill for all those lights. By taking the gullibles’ money.
That said, I sometimes go into a casino and play the quarter slots. For a roll of quarters. If I get lucky, I stop while I’m ahead and go have a meal (most casinos have a decent buffet). If I’m not lucky, I go hit the buffet.
Placing a bet can be fun…. just don’t lose the baby’s shoes or your house doing it.
September 30th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
JT – Using a device to count cards IS a crime. and you’re right, you CAN count cards in your head if you’re good enough AND they can boot you out for it.
BTW, that guy’s a tool.
October 1st, 2010 at 8:10 am
DL474 – I do it once in a blue moon. I won $200 on craps in Atlantic City a few years ago, and won some money at the horse races with my Uncle before. But for me, it always comes down to this; the money I spent could go to something I want . . . like hookers. Oh, I’ve said too much.
Robert B. – Agreed. As Ben Franklin said, “All things in moderation.”
Randal – Big time tool. And I am too stupid to count cards, so no worries there.
October 1st, 2010 at 10:59 am
I guess that means a trip to Canada in the near future…or before the month is up anyway. LOL
October 1st, 2010 at 11:00 am
DL474 – Stirke while the iron – and the loins – are hot.
October 1st, 2010 at 11:03 am
Wyatt:
Any way you shake it…it’s a helluva to toss a career while trying to “pad that retirement”…!
Stay safe.
October 1st, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Best part about it is he was the guy who was in that radio station commercial. He can’t sing either.
October 1st, 2010 at 1:46 pm
A stupid move.
October 1st, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Is it bad that I had no idea what the fuss was about until I read the comments? I’m thinking to myself “What is wrong with counting cards? What cards is he counting? Is this some kind of new term like ‘dating’ for prostitution?”
It’s still summer so I am still blond.