The Chicago Police Department was looking for a more efficient way for its officers to patrol O’Hare International Airport and provide a secure environment to the 200,000 people who move through the facility each day. O’Hare, the largest hub airport in the United States, covers more than 7,000 acres and includes four separate terminals, several massive parking ramps, 178 departure gates and miles of concourses complete with retail stores, gift shops, restaurants, bars, conference centers and cafés.
The 69 million people who use O’Hare International each year are always on the move, and Commander Michael Acosta wanted his officers to be able to keep pace. They needed to move safely through the multitudes, and to be conspicuous without causing alarm. They must be able to patrol vast distances on a regular basis, and respond quickly to security problems wherever they might develop.