Chicago police to lead response to airport disturbances
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CHICAGO — Police officers will take the lead in responding to disturbances at Chicago’s two airports and the word “police” will be removed from the uniforms of non-police security officers, the aviation department announced Wednesday, responding to an April incident in which security officers dragged a passenger from a packed United Airlines flight.
The city’s Department of Aviation released a report outlining the changes it will make to how the airports are policed. Cellphone video showing Kentucky physician David Dao being pulled off the plane at O’Hare International Airport showed that at least one security officer had the word “police” on his uniform. That will change under the new rules, which will also replace the word with new decals on security officers’ vehicles.
“We are confident that these actions are necessary to guide our department forward, while improving clarity for the aviation security officers,” Commissioner Ginger Evans said in a news release.
Aviation department spokeswoman Lauren Huffman said the day-to-day duties of the unarmed security officers at O’Hare and Midway International Airport won’t change much. They will continue to monitor access to secure and restrict areas at the airports, handle traffic control and support city police officers and fire fighters.
