New Danvers Fire Chief Responds To 'Thin Blue Line' Flag Dispute

DANVERS, MA — Newly appointed Danvers Fire Chief Robert Amerault addressed the 'thin blue line' flag dispute in town this weekend with a statement saying that while firefighters do not believe the flags are a political statement, it is "easy" to see how some residents might considering the political nature of recent rallies.

He also joined Danvers Deputy Fire Chief Brian Barry, who is president of the local firefighters union, in strongly condemning the personal attacks and threats directed at Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha, who ordered the flags removed from town fire apparatus two weeks ago.

"What I cannot wrap my brain around is the level of vitriol directed at the town manager," Chief Amerault posted on his Facebook account. "While I disagree with him on this issue, I can't condone the things that have been said, and threatened to be done towards he and his family, it is indefensible.

"If you try to defend calling him a coward, and then hide behind a keyboard and post his home address and pictures of he and his wife, then I don't want to know you. We can disagree with someone, and not be disrespectful and downright hateful towards them."

A "community conversation" was held at Danvers High last week where residents were welcomed to share their views on the flags both pro and con, with the Danvers Board of Selectmen voting to affirm Bartha's authority to have the flags removed at the conclusion.

Amerault said "after remaining largely silent" on the issue, he felt "the need to mention a few distinctions that I feel are very important" this weekend — a week after he was officially promoted from interim fire chief.

"I and the members of the fire department did not view those flags as any kind of political statement whatsoever, and we still don't," Amerault said. "We simply viewed them as a sign of solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the PD that we work so closely with. What the public will never understand is due to the nature of the work we do, we have an unbreakable bond with them, and we try to support one another as much as possible."

He added that while he does not view the flags as political in any way, he conceded they have been politicized at recent rallies and protests.

"It's easy to see why people consider the flags political," he said. "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."

Amerault ended his statement with a call for respectful discourse on the matter.

"We are better than that Danvers," he concluded. "We are a community, and we won't agree on everything, but let's try to be civil about it."

More Patch Coverage: Danvers Union Chief Condemns 'Vicious' Attacks On Town Officials

Danvers Selectmen Affirm Removal Of 'Thin Blue Line' Flags

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