SOLON, Ohio — Three days after the Solon Police Department removed a thin blue line flag from its property, Mayor Ed Kraus has approved having the department raise what he calls “the original thin blue line flag” in its place.
This original flag, which is all black with one blue line through the center of it, was raised outside the police station on Solon Road Friday (July 16).
The previous flag, a black-and-white American flag with one blue stripe, was taken down Tuesday (July 13) after it caused “a divisive and unhealthy reaction” within the community, according to a letter from Police Chief Richard Tonelli posted on the police department’s Facebook page.
Kraus, in another letter Tuesday (July 13) on the City of Solon’s Facebook page, requested that this flag be taken down because some residents “took Chief Tonelli’s raising of the ‘thin blue line’ flag on department property to mean something that was clearly not intended.”
“Unfortunately, this particularly designed flag has been commandeered by political groups who do not share the best interests of the law enforcement personnel who risk their lives on a daily basis for the betterment of their respective communities,” Kraus said in a follow-up letter posted on the city’s Facebook page Friday (July 16).
“I, as mayor, asked that that flag be removed as a way of mitigating the unfortunate negative connotation that has been ascribed to that specific design,” the letter continued.
Almost immediately after that flag was taken down, the city began receiving calls and messages on its Facebook page from residents concerned that it could show a lack of support for the police.
“The intention (of the previous flag) was correct, to honor the men and women who serve the police department,” Kraus said in an interview Friday (July 16). “But to some people it was offensive.”
In his letter posted Friday, Kraus said that after “open conversations” with Tonelli, they agreed that raising of a flag in honor of the city’s police officers is not only “long overdue, but is necessary to shed light on the care and work our police do for the citizens of Solon.”
“I wanted to make sure we flew a flag that has no political connotations, was not offensive and shows everybody that we love, honor and respect our men and women in the police department who serve us every day,” Kraus said in the interview Friday.
“We’ve met with community groups, and everyone has been in support of this. (This flag) does not have any political affiliation or connotation to it; it has only one meaning.”
Kraus added this flag also honors members of the police department who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“This flag is flown at any time there is a police shooting or a memorial,” he said. “We were trying to find the correct flag to honor and support the heroic men and women of law enforcement and that the community would support.”
The previous flag is one that “has been co-opted by insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol Building and by neo-Nazis who marched on Charlottesville,” Kraus said.
It has been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. It also was seen at the Jan. 6 insurrection, when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol.
The original thin blue line flag, however, actually has ties to and dates back to the Civil War.
“The original meaning of that thin blue line is that it represents control, between the law-abiding citizens and chaos,” Kraus said. “That line means the police are there for everyone’s protection.
“It also represents that police officers are human beings,” he added. “It represents their own humanity.”
All comments posted on the city’s Facebook page in response to Kraus’ letter Friday afternoon were positive.
“Excellent job finding a solution that is inclusive and supportive to everyone in our community,” Sarah Asbury wrote.
Alexander Mikhalev added, “Thank you for your compromise.”
In his letter Friday, Kraus said he spoke with leaders within the community, including members of the Alliance of Black Families, “who agree we must be selective in the symbols we choose to convey important perspectives.”
He closed his letter by saying, “I support this original thin blue line flag, and I support all this flag represents. It is a symbol of how a few brave men and women put everything on the line to make the world a better place.”
In his July 13 letter, Kraus said the department would replace the previous flag with the National Law Enforcement Memorial flag.
But now, he believes the city has come up with a solution that a majority of the community can support.
“I’ve made the decision; this is a good decision,” he said. “Not everyone is always going to be happy.
“Our job is to make a decision people are comfortable with, that the community supports and the police support. Sometimes you’ve just got to come together.”
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