Thin Blue Line Flags Removed From Mount Prospect Police Uniforms

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL — Following competing rallies outside Village Hall Tuesday night and a nearly four-hour discussion, the Mount Prospect Village Board voted 4-3 to eliminate the "Thin Blue Line" flag patch from officers' uniforms during a Committee of the Whole meeting.

Trustees Augie Filippone, Terri Gens, Peggy Pissarreck and Colleen Saccotelli voted in favor of removing the flag patch and designing a new one for the uniforms. Mayor Paul Hoefert was joined by Trustees John Matuszak and Richard Rogers in voting to keep it.

The decision met strong opposition from a number of police personnel, including Police Chief John Koziol, who discussed with the board his views prior to the vote. Koziol appeared on Fox News in June, along with two officers, stating the patches honor fallen officers and "will never be a symbol of hate."

"How a symbol that represents a memorial to police officers killed serving their community can turn into a symbol of hate defies all logic," Koziol said Tuesday.

The "Thin Blue Line" flag consists of an American flag — with black and white colors versus red, white and blue — except for a blue stripe located in the middle that was intended to show support of law enforcement, according to advocates. Opponents argue that it has been co-opted by extremist groups and used to demonstrate opposition to racial justice movements like Black Lives Matter.

The Mount Prospect Police Department decided to redesign a former patch to the current one featuring the "Thin Blue Line" flag in 2016. A committee had been formed at that time and several redesigns were considered.

Koziol referred to an internal survey of sworn officers, conducted in January, in which 53 of 81 officers responded. In that survey, 90 percent of the officers said they support keeping the patch.

The board originally scheduled two hours for public comment, but allowed an additional 30 minutes as numerous citizens spoke on each side of the issue. Board members thanked the public for weighing in before each stated their position and eventual vote.

"As has been said multiple times, this patch is considered racist by many regardless of what the intent is," said Pissarreck, who was elected a trustee in May. "Because of that, I fear for the reputation of this fine village will take on if, after tonight, we vote to retain that police patch."

Hoefert said he and the board have received a number of emails and phone calls regarding the patch in the last few months. He described the correspondence as "strong," but none of it was threatening. Hoefert did say some residents attempted to "shame him" into a decision.

"None of that bothers me. I understand this is a result of people having deep feelings on a very controversial [topic]. There is nothing wrong with [that word]," Hoefert said prior to voting to keep the patch. "These are good people. I know people on both sides of this issue, and they're all good people."

In explaining his vote to get rid of the patch, Filippone referred to two specific emails from family members of police officers sent to him with opposing views on the measure.

"The fact that we've had this much discussion on this symbol shows the divisiveness," Filippone said. "... Our village should be content-neutral to protect and allow guardrails because we as a village need to support the entire village, not just one particular faction or to create factions in our decisions."