Two Officers Involved Have Been Fired By The Chicago Department Of Aviation

Two of the officers in which a passenger was bodily dragged off a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville, KY in April have been fired, according to the city's Office of Inspector General.

The OIG investigation established that three Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) and one Aviation Security Sergeant violated City of Chicago Personnel Rules in response to a passenger disturbance aboard United Airlines Express Flight 3411 on April 9, 2017. Specifically, the first ASO violated the CDA Use of Force Policy when that ASO escalated a non-threatening situation into a physically violent one by forcefully removing a passenger from the aircraft. The ASO’s use of excessive force caused the passenger to hit his face on an armrest, resulting in the passenger sustaining a concussion, a broken nose, and the loss of two teeth.

OIG’s investigation also established that the second ASO made misleading statements in two reports and the third ASO made material omissions in a report, regarding the first ASO’s forceful removal of the passenger from the aircraft. The investigation further established that the Sergeant deliberately removed material facts from the third ASO’s “To/From Report” and approved reports without all essential information.

Finally, OIG’s investigation identified significant confusion within CDA’s Public Safety and Security, Security Operations Division regarding the roles and expectations of ASOs, which highlighted CDA’s fundamental failure to implement practical policies and procedures. OIG noted that CDA was conducting a review and update of its policies and recommended that CDA fully consider the serious issues identified in OIG’s report in the course of its review, to ensure ASOs and their supervisors have a clear and consistent understanding of their roles and responsibilities — individually and in relation to CPD and other airport personnel — and to ensure policies are adequately communicated and documented.

OIG recommended CDA impose discipline up to and including discharge against the first ASO and Sergeant; for the second and third ASOs, OIG recommended discipline commensurate with the gravity of the employees’ violations, past disciplinary record, and any other relevant considerations. In response, CDA stated it would proceed with disciplinary action against all four CDA employees, which would include discharging the first ASO and the Sergeant. Both employees grieved their discharge and arbitration dates have yet to be scheduled. CDA issued five-day suspensions to the second and third ASOs and both employees grieved their suspensions. The City agreed to reduce the second ASO’s suspension to two days. The third ASO withdrew the grievance and resigned.

CDA also stated in its response that it “intends to make completely clear through markings, procedures, and training, that the Aviation Security Division provides security services for airport staff and passenger safety, not police services.” CDA confirmed that a review of its policies and procedures was underway and stated it would be complete by the first quarter of 2018.

(Source: Chicago Office of Inspector General Quarterly Report. Image from file)

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