US: Aviation cops cry foul about name change in wake of United fiasco

The union representing Chicago aviation police officers is accusing the city of violating its contract—and jeopardizing the traveling public’s safety—by stripping the word “police” from the force’s uniforms and vehicles in response to the dragging of Dr David Dao off a United Express flight at O’Hare Airport. The rebranding of the Department of Aviation police department began in full force last week, with its SUVs being repainted so they say “security” instead of “police.” In January, aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans ordered the department to remove the word “police” from its uniforms—but the order was never enforced. Dao’s April 9 dragging off United Express Flight 3411 by three aviation cops—an international black eye for both the city and the airline—appears to have prompted the changes. Trustees of Service Employees International Union Local 73, which represents the aviation officers, filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the Illinois Labor Relations Board on Wednesday. “These changes undermine the actual authority held by Aviation Officers and place everyone using Chicago Airports at unnecessary risk,” the complaint states.<br/>