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Casino Regulators Debate Former Mental Patient's Case

ATLANTIC CITY – As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "David M. Wirtz was an exemplary worker at Bally's Atlantic City casino, his attorneys say. During his 21 months on the job, he drew praise from supervisors and won a promotion.

"But Wirtz had a darker side. Prior to working in the casino industry, he was a psychiatric patient who was involved in a 1990 shootout in Pennsauken, Camden County, that left two police officers and a social worker wounded.

"Casino regulators now must decide whether someone with such a history of violence and mental illness is too dangerous to work in the gaming industry. Wirtz's representatives argue that he has been rehabilitated and poses no threat to anyone.

"…Wirtz's case was debated Wednesday during the commission's board meeting, but a formal decision will not come until later.

"…The state Division of Gaming Enforcement, the commission's investigative arm, maintains that Wirtz is too dangerous to work in a casino and should be denied a gaming license.

"…Wirtz was granted temporary approval to begin working at Bally's in 2000. His violent past was uncovered when the DGE started conducting the background check that is required for a permanent gaming license…"

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