In Montgomery County, Maryland, a decision by the county executive has sparked controversy after he prohibited the police department from displaying a thin blue line flag. The flag, a wooden creation gifted to the 5th District officers by a local woodworker, James Shelton, has become a focal point in the ongoing debate surrounding law enforcement and community relations.
County Executive Marc Elrich explained his decision in a statement, saying, “The flag provides a symbol of support to some but it is a symbol of dismissiveness to others. Because it is divisive, the flag will not be posted at the 5th District nor in any public space within the Police Department.”
The flag in question is often referred to as a “blue lives matter” flag, which emerged in response to the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Critics of the flag argue that it stands in opposition to the views and concerns raised by Black Lives Matter. However, supporters maintain that the flag is simply a symbol of support for law enforcement and not intended to be against any particular group or cause. Jim McNeff, retired police lieutenant and managing editor of Law Officer, stated that “the flag is simply pro-police, not a symbol against anything or anyone, regardless of what Elrich purports.”
The Montgomery County Police Department initially acknowledged the gift on their Twitter page, posting a photo of Shelton and his son presenting the flag to officers. The tweet stated, “Thank you to resident James Shelton, who presented Montgomery County 5th District officers with a wooden American Flag that he had made in recognition of National First Responders Day. The flag will be displayed in the 5th District Station.”
However, that decision was quickly reversed. The police department later posted a note attributed to Elrich, stating, “Acting Police Chief Marcus Jones and I understand the concerns of the community. Under my administration, we are committed to improving police relations with the community and will immediately address any action that stands against our mission.”
The controversy surrounding the flag comes at a time when Montgomery County has been under increased scrutiny regarding its policies on immigration. Earlier in the year, Elrich signed an executive order designating the county a “sanctuary” jurisdiction. This order prohibits county agencies, including the police department, from cooperating with ICE. Immigration agents are barred from entering secure areas of county jails and must take custody of undocumented immigrants in public areas. This policy has drawn both support and criticism, further fueling the debate over the county’s approach to law enforcement and community relations. The sanctuary jurisdiction policy has made some wonder if this is why Elrich finds the thin blue line flag offensive.