3 ms·

Saw on TV news this morning, those weren't even real cops. They were private security hired by United. They were even told to stop wearing jackets that said "

Saw on TV news this morning, those weren't even real cops. They were private security hired by United. They were even told to stop wearing jackets that said "POLICE" months ago, but kept wearing them.

joezydeco 9y ago
They were Chicago Department of Aviation police. They're hired by the City Aviation department and usually have police training, but are not allowed to arrest citizens or carry guns (although they have been asking). http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/April-2017/3-Things-to-Know-About-the-Officers-in-the-United-Airlines-Fiasco/ http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/April-2017/3-Things-to-K... tldr: They're rent-a-cops hired by the airport, not United.
- 15155 9y ago
  So, it stands to reason they have _zero_ civil immunity, unlike a sworn officer?
  - joezydeco 9y ago
    It does stand to reason. However, this is Chicago. Locals know to never assume anything about city government because you'll tend to discover the opposite later on.
    - neeleshs 9y ago
      Fascinating. I'm genuinely curious to know some examples of this.
      - toomuchtodo 9y ago
        Google "Chicago government corruption". Having lived in Chicago before, you fear the Chicago Police and your local alderman is the fixer.
      - joezydeco 9y ago
        Here's a pretty famous example. If you're the mayor and you want to close an airport, do you follow FAA procedure and give notice to the government and all the aircraft owners (especially the ones with planes parked on the tarmac)? Nope! You shut it down in the middle of the night and bulldoze the runway. Problem solved! https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2003/march/31/mayor-daley-bulldozes-chicagos-meigs-field-(2) https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2003/march/31/m... http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/day-shut-down-meigs-field-180952788/ http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/day-shut-down-meigs-...
  - true_religion 9y ago
    They're sworn officers acting off duty.
    - Animats 9y ago
      Not necessarily.[1] Also, Illinois law doesn't give local police state-wide jurisdiction. (Some states, including California, do, but Illinois does not.) Unless they're off-duty Chicago cops, they don't have any more authority than ordinary rent-a-cops. They could be charged with assault and battery. [1] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-united-airlines-ohare-incident-city-council-met-20170411-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-united-...
  - srtjstjsj 9y ago
    Why would you assume they aren't sworn officers? They are government employees.

joezydeco 9y ago

They were Chicago Department of Aviation police. They're hired by the City Aviation department and usually have police training, but are not allowed to arrest citizens or carry guns (although they have been asking). http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/April-2017/3-Things-to-Know-About-the-Officers-in-the-United-Airlines-Fiasco/ http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/April-2017/3-Things-to-K... tldr: They're rent-a-cops hired by the airport, not United.

15155 9y ago
So, it stands to reason they have _zero_ civil immunity, unlike a sworn officer?
- joezydeco 9y ago
  It does stand to reason. However, this is Chicago. Locals know to never assume anything about city government because you'll tend to discover the opposite later on.
  - neeleshs 9y ago
    Fascinating. I'm genuinely curious to know some examples of this.
    - toomuchtodo 9y ago
      Google "Chicago government corruption". Having lived in Chicago before, you fear the Chicago Police and your local alderman is the fixer.
    - joezydeco 9y ago
      Here's a pretty famous example. If you're the mayor and you want to close an airport, do you follow FAA procedure and give notice to the government and all the aircraft owners (especially the ones with planes parked on the tarmac)? Nope! You shut it down in the middle of the night and bulldoze the runway. Problem solved! https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2003/march/31/mayor-daley-bulldozes-chicagos-meigs-field-(2) https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2003/march/31/m... http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/day-shut-down-meigs-field-180952788/ http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/day-shut-down-meigs-...
- true_religion 9y ago
  They're sworn officers acting off duty.
  - Animats 9y ago
    Not necessarily.[1] Also, Illinois law doesn't give local police state-wide jurisdiction. (Some states, including California, do, but Illinois does not.) Unless they're off-duty Chicago cops, they don't have any more authority than ordinary rent-a-cops. They could be charged with assault and battery. [1] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-united-airlines-ohare-incident-city-council-met-20170411-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-united-...
- srtjstjsj 9y ago
  Why would you assume they aren't sworn officers? They are government employees.