Smithtown Fire Department Returns 'Thin Blue Line' Flag To Truck

SMITHTOWN, NY — The Smithtown Fire Department will return the "thin blue line" flag to its Rescue 9 truck following a couple of days of controversy. The department, earlier in the week, pulled the pro-police officer flag from its vehicle after a community member complained about it, Rick Torre, Smithtown Fire Department public information officer, told Patch.

On Friday, the Board of Fire Commissioners and Smithtown Chiefs Office opted to place the flag back on the truck, citing "overwhelming community outreach."

"Newsday had contacted our organization regarding a complaint levied by a community member who felt the blue line flag on our apparatus was offensive," the fire department wrote in a statement. "While the initial decision to remove this flag was a difficult one, it was done in the 'interest of harmony' in order to err on the side of caution. But in response to receiving hundreds of comments from concerned residents who were offended by its removal, we have determined the best course of action is to return the flag to our Rescue Truck."

The "thin blue line" flag was originally placed on the fire department's rescue truck on Dec. 20, 2014, to honor New York Police Department officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were assassinated while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn while on-duty. The Smithtown Fire Department placed the flag to honor the sacrifice the two officers made, as well as express its support for local law enforcement.

"Today, we wish to note that our steadfast support of law enforcement has not changed and are proud we will continue to fly the blue line flag on our apparatus," the department stated. "The flag will be reinstalled on its fire apparatus [Friday] and will be flown with pride, with its original intention and meaning in mind, where it will remain."

On Feb. 2, Newsday forwarded to fire officials a photograph that a woman took of the "thin blue line" flag flying from the back of the fire department's Rescue 9 truck as it headed down Main Street in Smithtown, Newsday reported.

On Wednesday, the Smithtown Fire Department announced it would remove the flag from its rescue truck. The "thin blue line" flag was temporarily replaced with an American flag.

"In response to this notification the issue was discussed, and it was determined that the best course of action for all parties involved was to have the flag replaced with an American Flag," the fire department wrote in a previous statement. "This was a difficult decision to make as our steadfast support of our law enforcement partners has not changed. While we understand that this garners strong feelings on both sides of our community, we wish to focus on the life and property protection we provide to the residents of Smithtown."

Critics of the fire department's decision took to social media to voice their displeasure. Days later, the fire department made its about-face.

The flag became the center of controversy as it was flown at pro-police and pro-Donald Trump rallies following the Black Lives Matter marches in summer 2020.

Some police chiefs have banned their departments from using the flag or imagery.

Bill Scott, San Francisco's chief of police, in May 2020 banned his officers from wearing "thin blue line" face masks for fear they would be seen as "divisive and disrespectful," The Marshall Project reported.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Chief Kristen Roman in January barred officers from using "thin blue line" imagery while on-duty, NBC News reported.

Roman said the pro-police flag was "co-opted" by extremists with "hateful ideologies" who promote views that "run counter" to the "core values" of the department, and that it impedes the department's "efforts to build trust," according to NBC News.