Merge Aviation Cops With Chicago Police Department: Alderman

CHICAGO, IL — A Chicago alderman wants the Chicago Aviation Police to become a part of the Chicago Police Department in the wake of the agency's officers violently dragging a United Airlines passenger from a flight at O'Hare International Airport. Alderman Ray Lopez (15th Ward) suggested the idea at Wednesday's City Council meeting, proposing an order that would give the city 60 days to combine the two forces under the umbrella of the CPD, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Currently, the Chicago Department of Aviation oversees the aviation police.

SIGN UP: Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.

The Chicago Aviation Police has come under scrutiny after Dr. David Dao from Kentucky suffered a concussion, broken nose and other injuries when he was violently pulled from his seat by officers April 9. Dao was one of four passengers on United flight 3411 randomly chosen to be bumped from United flight 3411 so that airline employees could fly. Dao refused to give up his seat because he needed to return to Kentucky to see patients Monday, according to his lawyer. Three officers have been placed on administrative leave while their roles in the situation are reviewed.

While they graduate from the Chicago Police Training Academy and act as a de facto police force with arrest powers at O'Hare and Midway airports, aviation officers receive only four months of training — compared to the six months required by Chicago police officers — and aren't allowed to carry guns. Giving aviation officers firearms by making them a part of the CPD, in fact, was something the City Council had been discussing before the United incident.

The proposal by Lopez — a Southwest Airlines skycap at Midway for 12 years — would solve the issue of arming aviation police, as well as supply additional training so that there's not a repeat of what happened aboard flight 3411. But having the police department absorb the 292 aviation cops would require the city's bottom line to take a significant hit. It costs $19 million to fund the Chicago Aviation Police, but airport officers currently earn less in pay and benefits than if they were full-fledged CPD officers, the Sun-Times reports.

"Whatever the cost is, it would be well worth it — both financially for the city as well as for the delivery of public safety at the airports," Lopez told the Sun-Times.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office, however, isn't convinced merging the police forces is the right tact to take. Matt McGrath, the mayor's press secretary, told the Sun-Times that it was "a lack of judgment, not the lack of a weapon" that caused the situation aboard the United flight to get out of hand.

More via the Chicago Sun-Times

photos via Patch archive

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Check out the Events Calendar for what’s going on