The family of a fallen police officer in York, Maine, was compelled to remove a Thin Blue Line flag displayed in remembrance of his death, following complaints that the flag was a racist symbol. The officer, Trooper Charles Black, was killed in the line of duty during a bank robbery in 1964.
His son, Charlie Black, erected the Thin Blue Line flag, also known as the Blue Lives Matter flag, near his home on a utility pole to honor his father’s memory and law enforcement in general. However, some residents voiced concerns, claiming the flag was offensive and should not be displayed on public property.
York Town Manager Steve Burns told News Center Maine that a resident complained that the flag represented “segregation and discrimination.” Instead of addressing the resident’s misconception, Burns contacted the fallen trooper’s family to relay the complaint. This news deeply affected Trooper Black’s widow.
“This is just ripping a wound in her heart,” Burns said. “It was pure instant emotion for her and her whole family.”
Charlie Black, respecting his mother’s wishes, removed the flag. He expressed his frustration that his tribute to his father had become embroiled in a politically charged debate.
“This is not a racist white supremacist symbol, and I’m angry it’s portrayed that way,” Charlie Black stated.
Mary Black Andrews, the trooper’s widow and former York selectman, told the Bangor Daily News that she did not want to cause division. “God forbid we should offend anyone,” she said. “It bothers me tremendously. It’s the anniversary of his death. He gave his life to protect the public, and I gave my life to this town, and we can’t even celebrate this person. I’m sorry I offended them. It’s coming down and it won’t happen again.”
The Thin Blue Line flag is intended to honor law enforcement, especially those who have died in the line of duty. Jim McNeff, retired police lieutenant and managing editor of Law Officer, offered his perspective: “People who see other messages in the flag have merely bought propaganda and lies concerning law enforcement officers. This flag represents male and female police officers as well as every ethnic race employed as a cop; and that’s quite a diverse group. So don’t tell me it represents racism. That is a falsehood perpetuated by people who have an axe to grind with cops. Moreover, honoring a fallen officer in this manner is sacred. A person complaining about the practice should be educated not appeased, and the flag ought to remain waving in the wind.”
“Whether it’s the American flag or the Thin Blue Line flag,” McNeff concluded, “losing our respect and national pride in symbols that represent patriotism along with law and order will spell doom for us as a people. I shutter to think what that kind of disrespectful majority would do with our nation.”
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York Police Chief Charles Szeniawski said the town lacks a policy regarding flag placement on public property. “There is no policy about flags. Can anyone put anything up there? I don’t know. Maybe it’s something we should look at.” He acknowledged differing interpretations of the Thin Blue Line flag. “It’s how people interpret it,” he said. “For most officers that’s the Thin Blue Line flag. Just because you’re an officer doesn’t allow you to do anything you want. You can’t cross that line. That’s what it means to most of us.”
(Feature image: U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Zoe T. Perkins)