• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Sheriff orders removal of thin blue line flag from all county equipment

fallen officer

(U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Zoe T. Perkins)

June 24, 2020
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

CLARK COUNTY, Wash. – A local sheriff is taking action against a symbol that honors fallen officers and demonstrates appreciation for law enforcement—the thin blue line flag.

However, the meaning of the flag has been hijacked by anti-police groups who’ve associated it with hatred and bigotry.

The symbol is sometimes flown as a flag, attached as a sticker, or weaved into material for a variety of items.

Sadly, the thin blue line flag is now removed from anything associated with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. In a directive sent out late last week, Sheriff Chuck Atkins told all workers that fall under the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to remove all thin blue line materials from uniforms, cars, and office buildings, KPTV reported.

fallen officer
Thin Blue Line Flag (Wikipedia commons)

Atkins spoke about the decision to remove the symbol during a Juneteenth webinar with the NAACP, saying he didn’t want a sticker to be the reason people might be afraid to come to law enforcement for help.

“I’m not gonna let that little sticker be the divide among people in the community who will be afraid to come to us because of that,” Atkins said. “I will remove that sticker, we’re still the same people. So, I hope the actions they see we take says we want to be part of the solution.”

  • 31 POLICE INSTRUCTORS AXED AT OHIO PEACE OFFICER TRAINING ACADEMY

Atkins admits he’s received flack from members of law enforcement for the decision, but says he still believes it’s the correct one. The sheriff’s office on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that all of the stickers had been removed.

The sheriff isn’t the only law enforcement leader afraid to stand up to the bullies who’ve misrepresented the honorable symbol. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott prohibited officers from wearing a thin blue line mask in early May during the spread of coronavirus.

Even while issuing this directive, Chief Scott acknowledged the symbol dates back three decades and was adopted by the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial calling it a, “meaningful expression to honor fallen officers.”

Nevertheless, the sellout chief said, “symbolism on some of our officers’ face masks may be perceived as divisive or disrespectful.”

  • LOS ANGELES SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATES TAMPON FOUND IN OFF-DUTY OFFICER’S COFFEE

As a result, the police union turned the disheartening directive into a fundraiser.

Labeling the face masks the “official mask of the SFPOA,” the San Francisco Police Officers Association made them available for purchase through a website.

“We’ve received calls from all over the country,” the union wrote on Facebook in May, adding that 50 percent of sales will benefit a scholarship program for the children of fallen officers. “The outpouring of support has been huge,” Law Officer reported. 

  • VIDEO: WHITE DC PROTESTER IS OUT OF CONTROL YELLING AT BLACK POLICE OFFICERS

A county executive in Maryland banned a police station from displaying a wooden thin blue line flag that was a gift from a local resident in November 2019, Law Officer reported.

“The flag provides a symbol of support to some but it is a symbol of dismissiveness to others,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said at the time. “Because it is divisive, the flag will not be posted at the 5th District nor in any public space within the Police Department.”

Elrich’s thoughtlessness was an insult to James Shelton, the woodworker who made the flag and graciously offered it to the officers of the 5th District.

 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Clark County Sheriff's OfficeSheriff Chuck Atkinsthin blue line flag
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Thin Blue Line flag

Arizona governor signs new law protecting military and law enforcement flags from overbearing HOA regulations

June 11, 2022
Steven Eric DiSario

Father of fallen officer told to remove Thin Blue Line flag during National Police Week

May 19, 2022
Lucas Lillar

Substitute teacher caught on camera provoking student wearing ‘Thin Blue Line’ mask

February 3, 2022
Donald Sahota

Off-duty Washington officer fatally shot by deputy who misidentified him as a robbery suspect

January 31, 2022

Politicians remove blue line police patches from agency — now being sold for charity

December 19, 2021
USC professor

USC professor refuses to remove ‘Thin Blue Line’ flag from office door despite dissent

November 11, 2021
Load More

Latest Articles

Curtis Kimbrough

Florida kidnap suspect killed after pursuit, gun battle with deputies

June 27, 2022
California inmates

California inmates accused of murdering fellow prisoner

June 27, 2022
furious airline passenger

Video shows furious airline passenger push girlfriend out of the way and punch airport worker

June 26, 2022
Jeann Lugo

Officer suspends campaign for state Senate after he’s charged with assaulting opponent

June 26, 2022
Darlene Brister

Woman charged with murder after four children die in house fire

June 26, 2022
Houston Tipping

LAPD officer who died was beaten in training meant to ‘simulate a mob,’ mother says in wrongful death claim

June 26, 2022
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

MUST READ

Curtis Kimbrough

Florida kidnap suspect killed after pursuit, gun battle with deputies

June 27, 2022
Houston Tipping

LAPD officer who died was beaten in training meant to ‘simulate a mob,’ mother says in wrongful death claim

June 26, 2022
Vermont State Police

Troopers threatened with excavator while making arrest

June 25, 2022
Jeremiah Story

Arkansas detention officer shot and killed by suspect who retained gun while getting booked into jail

June 24, 2022
US Supreme Court

SCOTUS rules that police cannot be sued for Miranda violations

June 23, 2022
Load More

JOIN THE FIGHT

SAFEGUARD RECRUITING

Police Officers Needed – Entry level and lateral applicants wanted!

February 14, 2022

Deputy Sheriff

February 3, 2022

Dispatcher

January 25, 2022

Deputy Sheriff (POST Certified)

January 25, 2022

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com