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Police and fire officials from around the county are pictured in a new campaign flier asking voters to approve table games. The men say expanded gambling won’t increase crime, but might help fund their pension systems.

Kevin McCoy, who heads up the West Virginia Family Foundation, said he is appalled.

"We think it's a crying shame that we have law enforcement actually getting involved in the promotion of gambling in the county," McCoy said. "We're appalled that law enforcement would get involved in promoting an issue that ultimately comes back to haunt them."

McCoy added, "It really shows what gambling money really does to people. It makes them do things they normally wouldn't do."

But the police chiefs and the state Fraternal Order of Police president say they don't see crime increasing. They say the area needs the jobs and tourism dollars and their pensions could get a boost if voters approve table games.

"I don't think it's going to hurt like some people are suggesting," said Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster. "It's just one of those things. I think that the community needs a shot in the arm, so to speak."

The racetrack is sending out the ads to people in Kanawha County featuring pictures of and quotes from various law enforcement leaders as part of its "Vote Yes for Kanawha County" campaign.

The election on whether to allow table games at Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center will be held Aug. 11.

State FOP President H. Steven Walker, Webster, Nitro Police Chief Jack Jordan, St. Albans Police Chief Joe Crawford and Nitro firefighters Ron King and Corey Dean all are featured in the mailers.

Crawford appears on the front of the mailers pointing the way through some wilderness for a little girl on a pink bicycle. The words "We live in one of the safest areas in America" are printed nearby.

Open up the mailer, and photographs of the chiefs and firefighters appear under the words: "And we'll keep Kanawha County safe!"

Walker appears on the back near a quote that begins: "Voting yes for table games won't cause crime to increase."

The FOP made the decision to support table games about a year ago, Walker said during an interview Wednesday. Gambling lobbyist John Cavacini talked to them about how revenues generated from table games could be dedicated to help shore up badly unfunded municipal police and fire pensions.

The final table games bill passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Joe Manchin didn't set aside any such funds. But that's fine with Walker.

"If the cities would be kind enough to earmark some of the money for pensions, it would help the city and ultimately the taxpayers to help support those pension plans," Walker said.

Tri-State officials have estimated adding table games to the racetrack could bring up to 1,000 jobs to the area. Walker said that's now the main reason why the FOP supports table games.

"I've lived in Kanawha County all my life," Walker said. "There's not a great deal of jobs that will pay what (the racetrack's) jobs start out at."

Some have had concerns about traffic congestion at the Cross Lanes interchange of Interstate 64.

"I feel confident that the traffic problems, if they come, will be resolved," Walker said.

On the issue of crime, Walker said it would "really surprise" him if the area saw an influx following table games.

Chief Webster said FOP leaders encouraged him to appear in the ad. He said he checked with an FOP lawyer first and learned that appearing in the ad would not present an ethics problem since the upcoming election is non-partisan and there are no candidates involved.

Webster said his main concern is the crime rate in the city. He says he hasn't seen a growth of crime in the area connected to the neighborhood video slots parlors, and he doesn't see any problems with table games.

"I just don't see the crime rate increasing," he said. "I see it going down because unemployment is such a huge factor in crime. I hope (table games) reduces it. I don't think it would increase it."

He added, "Our crime, for the most part, is not related to gambling as far as I can see. I guess we can revisit that down the road."

The mailers carry the wrong date for the election to authorize poker, roulette and blackjack at Tri-State.

Scheduling snafus caused officials in Kanawha and Hancock counties to postpone the elections scheduled for June 9 to Aug. 11 and June 30, respectively.

Elections in Ohio and Jefferson counties are moving ahead as scheduled. Voters will head to the polls there on June 9.