Newton Police Chief David MacDonald circulated this letter in response to some questions about a Thin Blue Line flag that had been on display in West Newton next to the police station.
Good Afternoon,
Sometime before Labor Day, representatives of the Newton Police Memorial Association requested permission to fly the “Thin Blue Line “ flag in front of the Police Station (The Memorial Association maintains the Police Memorial and the grounds around it in front of 1321 Washington St). The Memorial Association is a Non-profit benefit association that among its duties is the provision of life, sickness and accident benefits to its membership. They have been around since the 1930’s.
The “Thin Blue Line” is a reference that has been around for decades and represents the Police as being that blue line that separates disorder from peaceful citizenry.
The Memorial Association’s intent was to show unity with one another and with men and women throughout the country doing this job. I granted permission. The flag has been flying for approximately two months.
During the weekend of November 4-5, several residents of the city apparently just noticed the flag and notified their City Councilor that “A Blue Lives Matter” flag was flying in front of the Police Station.
As a result, I consulted with the City Solicitors who informed me that the informal policy of the city was that; The American flag, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag and the POW/MIA flag were the only flags that should be flown consistently from public flag poles. Flags such as the Thin Blue Line flag were ceremonial and would be more appropriate for an occasion such as the weekend of Police Memorial Sunday during the first week in June. As a result of this conversation, I have instructed the Memorial Association to replace the Thin Blue Line flag with the American flag, effective this morning, November 6, 2017.
I would also like to thank City Councilor Hess-Mahan for his ongoing support and service to our community for all these years and wish him luck in all future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Chief David MacDonald
Thank you Chief for this comprehensive explanation, and for making this choice. It makes Newton a more welcoming city for all of its residents and visitors.
More welcoming city!!? You have got to be kidding! It is a travesty that the police were asked to remove this flag.
This is unbelievable. A more welcoming City? Are you kidding me. What a shame the Chief of Police bowed down to “several” people who think the Thin Blue Line means police lives matter. What a bunch of typical Cambridge – Newton political correctness BS. Oh and by the way, Police Lives Do MATTER. Read up on what the thin blue line means. Stand up for the women and men of your Department Chief. Let the Memorial Association fly the flag that represents the brotherhood, pride and solidarity of police officers. Is the Fire Department going to be told to take down their Red Line flags as well??
On Sunday, a Newton resident posted a complaint about a “Blue Lives Matter” flag being flown at the Police Station, on the West Newton neighborhood Google group. Several other residents, expressing various opinions, joined in the conversation, some asking for it to be taken down, others saying it should stay up. The Blue Lives Matter movement formed in response, and some would say in opposition to, the Black Lives Matter movement, which in turn formed in response to a series of killings of unarmed black men by police and other perceived racial injustices. The thrust of the complaint was that by raising the Blue Lives Matter flag on public property, the City of Newton was implicitly endorsing a political message that could be intimidating or demeaning to people of color who enter the police station seeking assistance or protection or see it flying there as they pass.
After receiving these complaints I contacted the Mayor’s office and the Chief of Police, David MacDonald, forwarding the complaints and asking about the flag. In the meantime, I received additional complaints by email, including photos of the flag, from other Newton residents who had read the previous posts, expressing concern and asking for the flag to be taken down. I implored the residents who complained to be patient and allow the Chief sufficient time to respond to their concerns. I heard from the Chief the following morning, on Monday, and he explained to me what is described in his letter above.
Chief MacDonald assured me–and I absolutely believe–that neither he nor the Memorial Association ever intended to send a political or any other message other than to honor the sacrifice of police officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty to protect this community. He explained to me that the Thin Blue Line flag, of which there are several versions, has been around for quite a while, and that the thin blue line represents law enforcement as the bulwark between order and chaos in society.
The particular Thin Blue Line flag that was raised at the Police Station resembles the American flag, with the stars and stripes in black and white, with a single blue stripe in the middle. The Blue Lives Matter movement has adopted, some would say co-opted, the Thin Blue Line flag and sometimes adds text of their own, including the phrase “Blue Lives Matter,” to the flag. This is what led to some confusion resulting in the complaints which I received.
As Chief MacDonald explains above, the city’s official is to only fly the American and Massachusetts flags on city property, as well as the POW/MIA flag which has its own special provision under state law, on a regular basis. Ceremonial Flags, such as the Thin Blue Line flag, the Pride flag, and other flags honoring, commemorating or memorializing specific organizations, groups or events, are permitted on special occasions, such as the weekend of Police Memorial Sunday, Pride Day, or other relevant special day.
For that reason, Chief MacDonald decided to take down the black, white and blue Thin Blue Line flag, which had been raised since Labor Day, and replace it with the red, white and blue, American flag. I believe, however, that the city policy leaves the door open for the Police Department to raise the Thin Blue Line flag next June around Police Memorial Day. And I would support and encourage that to happen.
There was no intention on anyone’s part to disrespect or devalue Newton police officers, including those who sacrificed their lives protecting our community. Nor was there any intention on anyone’s part to send an unwelcoming message to people of color or others who live, work or visit Newton. There was only a noble intention to honor police officers which was misinterpreted because of a flag that has only recently become a rallying symbol for the Blue Lives Matter movement.
I am deeply grateful to Chief MacDonald for the professional and prompt manner in which he responded to the concerns raised by members of the community. In all candor, I was unaware of the history of the Thin Blue Line flag and its more recent association with the Blue Lives Matter movement, and am grateful to Chief MacDonald for taking the time to explain to everyone. He also encouraged members of the community to feel free to talk to him about this or any other concern they may have with the Newton Police Department in the future.
Chief MacDonald and I have worked together before on difficult issues concerning race and the relationship between the community and the police department. After the leaders of my congregation, First Unitarian Society in Newton, decided to join many other Unitarian-Universalist congregations in hanging a banner supporting the Black Lives Matter movement at our church, the minister came to ask my advice and assistance. She was concerned, as was I, that hanging a Black Lives Matter banner on our church, which is across the street from the police station, might be misinterpreted as a provocative or offensive gesture by police officers and the Department. I urged her to meet with Chief MacDonald, which she did on multiple occasions, to discuss it before FUSN hung its banner in front of the church. These meetings blossomed into an effective working relationship on issues or race and community policing, which culminated in the organization of a Unity Prayer Service at City Hall that included the Mayor, City Council, Clergy Association, Police Department and members of three West Newton congregations including FUSN, Myrtle Baptist Church and Temple Emanuel. Mayor Setti Warren, Chief MacDonald, the head of the Clergy Association and I, among others, spoke at this event to support unity and reject division.
I have nothing but the greatest admiration and respect for the Newton Police Department, Chief MacDonald, and all of the police officers who serve or have served Newton, including those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty to protect this community. They have earned, and we owe them our respect, and it is my sincere desire hope that this particular incident, rather than ending the conversation, will serve as a catalyst to begin a dialogue between community leaders, the police department and members of the community and stakeholders on all sides. My earnest hope is that such a dialogue would only strengthen the relationship between the community and the police department which is sworn to protect it, and will prevent the unrest we have seen in other communities as well as the kind of misunderstandings that occurred this weekend.
Ted and Chief MacDonald:
I appreciate how both of you handled this situation. Thank you to you both.
This is the kind of political correctness that inhibits free expression. It certainly does not reflect the valuing of diversity. For this entire series of events to Have occurred, a lot of assumptions and counter assumptions were being made. Someone “thinks” that the flag is an attack on BLM; not good enough. And tho it’s dangerous to say in Newton the BLM organization has said some seriously threatening things; “How do we like our cops, dead; when, now” as they marched and chanted in NYC and San Francisco. Let’s get a little reality testing going among our elected and appointed leaders, and citizenry please. Start with reading @Robert Peel’s comments above.
That chant about dead cops at Black Lives Matter marches is a recurring urban legend. There’s one video from 2014, where the chant clearly occurs long after the Million Man March ended. That video keeps getting shared and identified as happening in BLM marches in other cities (see https://www.snopes.com/black-lives-matter-protesters-chant-for-dead-cops-now-in-baton-rouge/). Nasty racist rumor-mongering shouldn’t have any part in this conversation.
There has been no racist hateful comment made here Jessica. Disagreement is not racist, nor rumor mongering. Calling my comments such does not make it true. We are talking very recent history here and you can find the comment mentioned/shown on UTube, as well as the “pigs in a blanket” comments there, BLM flag flying. There is a huge difference between the BLM ORGANIZATION (what I reference), and the reality/ concept that YES, it’s obvious and true that black lives do matter.
Maybe the church across the street can also hang the blue lives matter banner too! That would be a nice thing to see.
Pat that would be so nice! A real sign of respect and solidarity, things that that church values.
Maybe the citizens & business owners should hang the “Thin Blue Line” flag to show respect! Shame on you chief!!!
Lets think about this for a second. A flag that is flown to support the Police is taken down because you think the meaning is “anti BLM”? That’s funny because that flag was created far before BLM movement. Oh wait I forgot, everyone is just trapped in the Newton Bubble. Your worries consist of the resistance of the President, leaf blowers, and to hate the Police. Just go howl at the moon for the next 7 years see if that makes you feel better. How about support the Police and give them the respect that they deserve. A short time ago after the marathon bombing the Police were given that respect for a very short time. No one remembers that I guess. Just remember your hatred when someone is breaking into your home and handle it yourself. Why not take a vacation to Chicago or Detroit for a week and let me know how you feel then. Pop that bubble you live in and get a grip. Go and buy an Officer a cup of coffee and say thank you for you service.
If you support flying the Blue Lives Matter flag, would you also support flying a Black Lives Matter flag alongside it?
I’m sure the Police dept. would be more then happy to do that Jim. And all lives matter. The blue line is for support for the Police. Not anti BLM like your assuming. Go to city hall and talk to Ted Hess Mahan and propose to fly them both.
There is already a BLM flag flying at the church directly across the street, which Ted is affiliated with. The more generous thing would be to have that church also flying the Blue Line flag. This was suggested a while back, yet no action on it. Wouldn’t it be nice if THM pursued that suggestion?