PD chief apologizes for thin blue line flag - Why?

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Snattlerake

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Why does this continue to happen? I would tell them to go pound sand. Your being offended is not my causation or concern.

The police chiefs that have succumbed all recognize the image has been hijacked by the alt left to undermine the exact meaning of the flag but they still take the easy way out not standing up for the image as it was created. Granted, it is not a Betsy Ross or a civil war or a Gadsden flag but it was created for one purpose and that was to appreciate the LE officers who have died for their service.

The police chief of Golden Valley, who took the helm of the department just six months ago, made a public apology for posting a Thin Blue Line flag image to social media for National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green posted the flag image on Jan. 9 in a message acknowledging and thanking Golden Valley police officers for their service to the community, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

But on Jan. 13, Chief Green shared to the police department’s official Facebook page an apology for the post honoring his officers.



He said the post had been meant in a positive way but acknowledged that some residents were offended by the Thin Blue Line flag and he apologized for using the police support symbol in his message.

“Our social media post also included an image of the thin blue line flag,” the police chief wrote. “While the post was intended to thank our police officers, it appears the image offended some who viewed it. For this, I sincerely apologize.”

“For many, the thin blue line flag has always represented a way to honor the commitment we make as first responders to protect our community,” Chief Green’s post to the police department’s official Facebook page continued. “It is disappointing that in recent years the flag’s positive intention has been tarnished with divisive undertones and actions. We do not want to promote these negative connotations.”

The police chief included information about the history of the Thin Blue Line flag and its origins in his post and encouraged those who were offended to read up on it.


He said that it was his duty to acknowledge and thank his officers on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and to make the public aware of important days honoring police.

But Chief Green also said in his message that he didn’t want to offend anyone in the process.

“In the future, the Golden Valley Police Department will use images that do not bring unwarranted controversy between the police and the public,” he wrote.

The police chief, who became top cop in June of 2022, took heat from outraged residents who disagreed with his apology.

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Some posted Thin Blue Line images and more social media criticism of Chief Green.

“Full support for the Golden Valley Police Department & every other LE agency around the country,” @MissElizabethA tweeted on Thursday morning. “This extremely weak ‘chief’ needs to resign. He’s part of the problem, and gave his officers a reason to be ashamed/ embarrassed of him. These folks stepped up to risk their lives.”

“As a MN resident, I will avoid any business in Golden Valley. Your cowering to a few at the expense of law enforcement,” @GerryPo tweeted.

Some critics pointed to a broader, nationwide trend of banning symbols of support for law enforcement because anti-police citizens were offended.


“It’s unfortunate that extremist groups have hijacked the use of the ‘Thin Blue Line flag’ to symbolize their undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views,” the police chief said.
 

Glock 'em down

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I fly a few additional/accompanying flags along with Ol' Glory. A Gadsden, a US Navy flag (my niece is a sailor) the POW/MIA flag, the Jolly Roger (because of the pirate in me, Argh!) and sometimes an Oklahoma state flag.

But I've never flown a TBL flag. Not because I'm ashamed or embarrassed and definitely not because I might offend somebody. :finger: I just don't want my home or vehicles vandalized or something like that, because people are stupid.
 

OK Corgi Rancher

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No wonder he's a chief... Cowards oftentimes rise to the top because they've never risked anything. I worked for a chief like that. Part of the reason I left LE... I'm to the point now I don't give a rat's ass what anyone thinks of those things I stand for.
 

Snattlerake

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The absolute only thing I can think of is he, and others, were threatened by the city fathers to apologize or else.

This apology per se, is tempered by the statement every chief has given during the controversy. The fact the image has been hijacked and they recognize that it has been but nothing can be done about it.

This is the only reason that makes sense.

Now, why can't we do anything about it?
 

OK Corgi Rancher

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The absolute only thing I can think of is he, and others, were threatened by the city fathers to apologize or else.

This apology per se, is tempered by the statement every chief has given during the controversy. The fact the image has been hijacked and they recognize that it has been but nothing can be done about it.

This is the only reason that makes sense.

Now, why can't we do anything about it?

That makes the chief just that much more of a coward.
 

Catt57

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So being in the Boy Scouts, and having a father that was a Commander of an American Legion post, I had the US Flag code drilled into me as a kid.
As such, I have always had an issue NOT with the Thin Blue Line, but with placing it, or anything else, on a US Flag. (Or facsimile thereof.)
I feel it is a disrespect both to our nation's flag, and to the insignia placed upon it.

I feel it would be best to fly a flag with ONLY the Thin Blue Line on it below the US flag. In that way each flag stands alone and the proper respect for both is observed.

From the US Flag code.. Title 4 Chapter 1
§8. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
  • The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
  • The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
  • The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
  • The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
  • The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
  • The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
  • The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
  • The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
  • The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
  • No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
  • The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning
 

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