The federal agency that regulates Indian casinos warned the Soboba tribe recently that it could be forced to close its casino if violence on the reservation endangers people there.

Phil Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, confirmed Friday that he and his staff have been talking to the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians in the wake of two law enforcement shootouts on the reservation that left three tribal members dead.

"We said, 'Hey, we've heard there's been some violence there in the vicinity of the gaming facility,' " Hogen said in a telephone interview. "If it looks like it's going to put life and limb at risk ... closure of the facility might be necessary."
Hogen stressed that the casino is not currently in danger of being closed, and the commission hasn't issued any citations or penalties in connection with the shootouts last month. The commission informed the tribe of the "worst-case scenario," he said.
The commission has the ability to shut down an Indian casino for safety reasons, but Hogen said it has probably done so only a few times in its 20 years in existence.
Hogen didn't recall any cases similar to the Soboba situation, and he said most of the safety concerns at other casinos have involved building issues, such as inadequate fire protection.

Hogen and staff members from the commission's Temecula office have been communicating with the tribe in the wake of the shootouts, he said.
The commission asked the tribe to clarify a number of issues, including a policy that firefighters and paramedics be escorted by law enforcement when they respond to calls on the reservation, Hogen said.

Cal Fire, which responds to fire calls on the Soboba Reservation, reversed that policy at 8 a.m. Friday and now allows firefighters to respond immediately, said Capt. Fernando Herrera.

"Things have changed, and there have been no incidents for weeks," Herrera said Friday.

In January, after a series of violent car chases, Cal Fire required its rescue crews to wait for a law enforcement escort before responding to emergency calls on the reservation. Firefighters were allowed to answer calls at the casino east of San Jacinto without an escort.

That policy was reversed weeks later, but it was reinstituted last month after the three tribal members were killed in two shootouts with Riverside County sheriff's deputies in less than a week.

Cal Fire officials have said the policy changes have been prompted, in part, by a recommendation from the Sheriff's Department, which provides law-enforcement services for the reservation.

Soboba Chairman Robert Salgado said Friday that he asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to question the Cal Fire policy, and it was rescinded shortly thereafter.
Salgado also said he has asked the National Indian Gaming Commission to send an inspector from Washington, D.C., this month to resolve any concerns that the commission has.