ANTHONY COBB, CHIEF OF POLICE, CHAMPAIGN POLICE DEPARTMENT; BRYANT SERAPHIN, CHIEF OF POLICE, URBANA POLICE DEPARTMENT; THOMAS BROWN, CHIEF OF POLICE, RANTOUL POLICE DEPARTMENT

Shop for authentic Virginia Flags. The Virginia State Flag features a dark blue background with the seal of Virginia emblazoned upon the center on a white ...

Though there was supposed to be a public announcement about the removal of the stickers, that has not yet come to fruition. Smile Politely obtained an email dated July 2nd from Sgt. Serphain, stating the following:

Image

Regardless of what people think the Thin Blue Line emblem represents, Blue Lives Matter organizers literally co-opted the emblem to be the face of their counter-movement in opposition to Black Lives Matter, as a way to show support for law enforcement, as Black people continue to be murdered by police in America.

NavyVeteran Flag

I don’t believe any police department or Sheriff’s Office can adequately serve its community when an “us versus them” attitude is present. Those of you who know me know I am part of the LGBTQ+ community and have a Latino husband. These groups have not always had a good relationship with police and still struggle with it today. My personal goal, and the goal of my administration at the Sheriff’s Office, is to bring our diverse community together and show that everyone in our community matters, not just some.

When asked about the symbol’s connection to white supremacy, the leader of Thin Blue Line USA said (as per The Marshall Project’s article linked above), “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” and “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement — no politics involved”. Though it seems like it should go without saying, all emblems and icons are political. The flag and its intention to “show support for law enforcement” is inherently political; it taps into racism, hate, and bigotry, because the system of policing in America has both historical and current ties to all of those things.

On its face, this homage to the late Lt. Rutledge has all the best intentions. However, the Thin Blue Line flag has a certain connotation that cannot be ignored. The Marshall Project took a deep dive into the history of the symbol and how it is widely understood to perpetuate white supremacy, and stand in opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. As recently as last week, NBA star James Harden was criticized for wearing a Thin Blue Line mask.

Air ForceVeteran Flag

To our Departments, the “Thin Blue Line” represents the men and women who possess a selfless commitment to community and public safety, and who have the courage to confront danger, so it does not find our friends, neighbors and families. It honors the sacrifice of law enforcement who have died in the line of duty while acknowledging the officers who continue to accept the responsibility of public safety with great valor and civility.

I’ll admit that when I heard that the Urbana Police Department was removing the memorial stickers that honor a fallen officer because of its incorporation of/association with the “Thin Blue Line,” I was a bit confused. I’m not a stranger to the “Thin Blue Line” term, but as I researched it a bit recently, I realized that some get a different impression from the term than I do.

Not everyone can be a police officer, and not everyone should be a police officer. It takes the right type of person to keep the community safe while also being compassionate and open-minded. There are very few professions that have to don a bullet proof vest while working for fear of being shot while responding to a shooting or robbery call, or have to worry about making it home to their families at the end of the night for fear of being hit by a car on an accident scene. To me, the “Thin Blue Line” is a display of solidarity that shows “I understand what you are going through. You are not alone.”

Free flags for Veterans

Lt. Rutledge died tragically while on vacation three years ago today; officers wanted to recognize his passing back in 2017. As a result, they decided to use the Thin Blue Line flag as the basis for the memorial sticker with the verbiage “In memory of Lt. Harley Rutledge 424” (424 was his badge number). The sticker is subdued and has been on the cars for closing in on three years. The sticker does not say “Blue Lives Matter.” Nonetheless, the Mayor and I spoke this morning, and she has decided that we will arrange for a replacement memorial sticker that we will use for the remainder of the (sic) life of this fleet of vehicles.

AmericanFlags made in USA

We started in 2017 creating flags and signs, and our business took off thanks to the support in our local community.  We love and live for supporting active duty, veterans, 1st responders, and fellow patriots and families with our creative flags and art; and wanted to grow our reach nationally.

I gifted a white cross pallet wood sign to my mentor. She loved it. She said its a popular piece in her office. Very well made!

100% American Made in Florida using ethically sourced materials, and each assembled by hand. Family owned and operated. Relentless quality.

My personal view of the “Thin Blue Line” concept is not of an “us versus them” mentality, but rather as a symbol of solidarity from a group of people with the same unique experiences – experiences that are not always fully understood by those not in that group. Sometimes not even by our own family members.

MilitaryVeteran Flag

The “Thin Blue Line” flag represents the officers (men and women) who keep society safe from violence and chaos. It also pays respect to those officers who have paid the ultimate price while protecting the communities they served. The “Thin Blue Line” has been around for quite some time representing the color of the police uniform. One of the early recorded use of the term “Thin Blue Line” was in 1922 by New York Police Commissioner Richard Enright. Later the term spread to law enforcement agencies all across the US.

As far as similarities and differences to the “Blue Lives Matter” you would have to ask the organizers of that group. I have no idea why they chose the emblem.

The responsibility of law enforcement is to serve and protect through unconditional respect. As public servants, we do not view the “Thin Blue Line” as a source of division. Police and the community need to be working together to produce and evolve public safety services. However, we understand in recent years the true meaning behind the term has been taken away from its intended purpose. It’s been adopted by some who do not represent the ideals and values of our police departments, nor appreciate what it means to strengthen the bonds of trust between police and residents by coming together through empathy and mutual understanding.

WoodenAmericanFlags made by veterans

Officially licensed Mickey Mouse San Francisco 49ers 2 sided garden flag. This official Disney Mickey Mouse NFL garden flag features two different designs ...

To our officers, the “Thin Blue Line” signals solidarity in our profession, representing a promise to those we serve and protect and to the many who have come before us that we will do so at all hours of the day and night, as well as be responsive to the changing needs of the community.

ArmyVeteran Flag

Solar Flag Pole Light 176 LED, 880 Lumens Brightest Solar Powered Flagpole Lights for Most 15 to 25 Ft Flag Poles, 100% Flag Coverage, 6800MAH Downlight Last Up ...

Thank you for reaching out to us to learn our perspective.  Please note that since we serve the same Champaign, Urbana, and Rantoul community, the Champaign, Urbana, and Rantoul Police Departments have decided to respond together.

Australia Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant.

Our family owned business is run in sunny Florida. Our items are hand crafted and hand made by us in our facility. Most of our designs and process are unique to us, and are created in order to make heirloom products to stand the test of time. From hand selecting ethical raw materials, to hand assembling and packaging in our facility, relentless quality and service is our commitment to you.

3dRose fl_158418_1 Flag of Russia-Russian White Blue Red Horizontal Stripe Tricolor-Eurasia World ... Sky Blue and White Check Flag - 5 x 3 FT - 100% Polyester ...

2018810 — HOT TIP: For this 1754 issue, Franklin created the severed snake image to urge cooperation with France in the Seven Years War and to push for ...

2024614 — Indiana Legion will be presenting the American Flag for the National Anthem during the Colts vs Broncos preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, August ...

UsVeteran Flag

Download Detroit Lions Black Logo Background 100% Free for your device. Multiple sizes available for all devices and screen sizes.

Last month, a number of citizens pointed out to city officials the use of a “Thin Blue Line” flag on the back of Urbana Police Department vehicles memorializing Lt. Harley D. Rutledge, a former UPD police officer that passed away in 2017. (See the sticker above the title of this article.) This was brought to the attention of Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin and Urbana Police Department Sgt. Bryant Seraphin, and eventually, the stickers were removed from police vehicles due to public concern about the emblem and its connection to the Blue Lives Matter counter-movement and what that symbol represents.

The flag of Brunei features a striking combination of colors, with a vibrant yellow taking up 55% of the design, followed by a crisp white at 22%, a bold black ...

The adoption of the symbol was by design — not an innocent coincidence — and is no longer  up for interpretation. We don’t need to be experts in semiotics to understand how signs and symbols can change over time. Law enforcement should have a much broader understanding of the symbols they are displaying on their vehicles as they drive out into the communities they claim to “protect and serve”. Not understanding this nuance is completely unacceptable and legitimately harmful.The continued perpetuation of the emblem by law enforcement — a taxpayer-funded organization — is clearly problematic.

Not Available for Shipping - Perth In store Pick Up Only ** Great looking BIG kite which is easy to fly. Large delta kite, it is very stable in light winds.

Speaking as a representative of your department, what do you believe the use of the “Thin Blue Line” flag represents? How is this similar or different from the use of the same emblem within the “Blue Lives Matter” movement?