Danvers Petition To Put 'Thin Blue Line' Flag Use Up To Vote

DANVERS, MA — The matter of whether the 'thin blue line' flag in support of law enforcement belongs on town property was ruled on by the Danvers town manager, discussed at a community forum, affirmed by the Danvers Board of Selectmen, and ultimately, publicly accepted by senior Danvers fire and union officials who wanted to fly the flag on their apparatus.

Now a petition is attempting to have the fate of the flag in town placed on the warrant of a Danvers special town meeting.

A petition seeking to extend the debate was presented to the town clerk's office on Monday with organizers planning to present it to the Danvers Board of Selectmen Tuesday night.

"This decision and vote demonstrate their complete lack of respect toward our police officers and firefighters," said the petition sponsors, who said they had more than 450 signatures before presenting it to the town clerk's office. "To rectify this horrific act of disrespect, we have formed the Citizens to Restore Respect of First Responders in the Town of Danvers. Our first act is to petition the town to hold a special town meeting to cause the town meeting members to meet, discuss, debate and vote to see if the town meeting body will authorize the use and display of the 'Thin Blue Line' flag on fire and other public safety apparatus."

The groups organizers are town meeting member Rick Bettencourt, town meeting member and retired police officer Michael Hagan, former Board of Selectmen member Keith Lucy and former Board of Selectmen member and town meeting member Mark Zuberek.

Three weeks ago, Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha ordered the flags removed from town apparatus because they could be viewed as a political statement. The Board of Selectmen affirmed his authority to do so at the conclusion of a "community conversation" at Danvers High School.

While fire officials said they disagreed with the decision, Danvers Fire Chief Bob Amerault later acknowledged that is was "easy" to see the flag was being used politically in some circles and accepted the decision.

"It's easy to see why people consider the flags political," Chief Amerault wrote. "You would have to be naive to say otherwise when at a rally for support of the thin blue line flag there were so many campaign signs, painted vehicles and a merchandise trailer all supporting one (presidential) candidate.

"My question is: What does one have to do with the other? Why can't we show support for the police without equating it to a presidential campaign? This is where I feel we, as the fire department, trying to make the argument that the flags aren't political, lose the fight, and that
saddens me."

Still, Citizens to Restore Respect of First Responders in the Town of Danvers wants to further the debate.

"For years, the 'Thin Blue Line' flag has been used to demonstrate dignity and respect for law enforcement officials nationwide," the petition stated. "In particular, it is used to show respect for fallen officers that have been killed in the line of duty. Since 2016, there have been 170 law enforcement officials feloniously killed in the line of duty.

"Every 10 days, a law enforcement official is killed in this country and their lives deserve all the respect and dignity that we can provide."

More Patch 'This Blue Line' Coverage: Danvers Union Chief Condemns 'Vicious' Attacks On Town Officials
Danvers Selectmen Affirm Removal Of 'Thin Blue Line' Flags
Weymouth Police Deliver 'Thin Blue Line' Flag To Norfolk Sheriff
Weymouth Fire Engine Flies Hingham's 'Thin Blue Line' Flag