Three Officers Were Involved In Incident Dragging A Passenger Off A United Flight

Chicago Alderman Ray Lopez has introduced legislation in the City Council that would essentially disband the Chicago Department of Aviation police force.

Three officers of the force were involved in dragging a passenger off a United Airlines flight, and videos of the incident captured by other passengers went viral, causing serious backlash for United Airlines. 

The order introduced by Ald. Lopez, a former skycap, would mandate that the Chicago Police Department and the Department of Aviation "identify a means for the consolidation" of the two units, and establish a 60-day timeline for the creation of a “singular local law enforcement entity” at Chicago's O’Hare and Midway airports, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper.

Department of Aviation officers have arrest powers, but they do not carry guns. They traditionally operate as a secondary, uniformed police force at O'Hare.

There would be a considerable cost associated with consolidating the two entities. Chicago police officers earn considerably more than the aviation police, and require more training. The aviation police force costs about $19 million per year and has 292 employees, according to the report.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/doa.html