Obviously United screwed up and seems like a horrible company, and I think that forcing airlines to more explicitly disclose how flights are overbooked to their

Obviously United screwed up and seems like a horrible company, and I think that forcing airlines to more explicitly disclose how flights are overbooked to their customers, including the resolution process seems reasonable. But police getting involved in non-criminal matters? Not strange in the slightest. It wouldn't be strange at all for someone to call the police about a trespasser or removing a customer that refused to leave (from a bar, restaurant, retail store, and so on). It's even less shocking since as part of buying a ticket you agree to a contract of carriage (which is a shitty adhesive contract, but that is a separate issue) in which you agree that United has the right to remove you from a flight. And again, just reiterate, I found the content of the video abhorrent, but making a 1 off rule against airlines seems totally arbitrary. If all other types of businesses are allowed to call the police, why not airlines? Do police coerce people with violence? Sometimes, yes. But what does that have to do with United. That's an issue with political authority.