There has been a rumor that has been floating around about Department of Aviation Police taking over Law Enforcement duties at both of this Cities airports.
DOA are sworn and certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards board, but do we want this encroachment on our duties? This could be the first steps in the privatization of the rest of the Police Department, remember not to long ago, they said they were gonna put more officers on the streets by giving traffic duties to this newly created Traffic Management Authority? Look how well that worked when they usurped that power from us. Streets have never been more clogged and they finally realized that it was a waste of money and laid off all of the full timers.
If they are looking to save money, why the hell is there Aviation Police in the first place? They man critical checkpoints at the airports unarmed, they don't make arrests (CPD does) they have no facility to detain prisoners, so what in essence do they actually do? The Chicago Guys out there generate reports (missing/lost/theft/etc) make arrests at TSA checkpoints for weapons violations etc, enforce parking and traffic, yet Aviation PD does none of that. Between both airports there are approx 150 people or so on top of 300+ APD officers so where could the cut be made? Create a whole new department that will cost more money or just keep it the way it is?
Anyone hearing whispers in the halls of power?