The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
DEFENDING THE FLAG
Sheriff says flying ‘Thin Blue Line Flag’ his way to support law enforcement
MADISON COUNTY, N.Y. » The “Thin Blue Line Flag” and whether it should be flown on public property has become a controversial topic of late in Madison County.
The county’s sheriff, Todd Hood, who put the flag up there, thinks it has a right to fly. It was only a few months ago he raised the flag on the pole at the county jail, he recalled.
“I actually can’t believe it’s gotten this much attention,” he remarked.
The Thin Blue Line flag is one that has been around for decades, he said. The flag honors law enforcement who put their lives on the line everyday for public safety, and it also remembers those who have fallen along the way, he said. “So many people forget the men and women of law enforcement who die,” he commented.
“The flag was put up [in Madison County] so we could show, me, specifically, as a leader, would show the men and women of my agency that I support them and the jobs that they do everyday,” Hood explained.
“The flag was put up [in Madison County] so we could show, me, specifically, as a leader, would show the men and women of my agency that I support them and the jobs that they do everyday.”
— Todd Hood, county’s sheriff
Symbols, and their meanings, can be up for interpretation.
Some residents have voiced to county officials they believe the flag is inappropriate to fly on public property. It has become a divisive symbol, some say, or it sends the wrong message to some residents. Some say the flag has often been seen representing the opposing side of the Black Lives Matter movement, a movement that often criticizes law enforcement and seeks to end police brutality.
The flag was also seen being waved by rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. This act makes the flag’s connection to white supremacy and hatred undeniable, some say, and waving a flag that catches even a whiff of this ideology is not something the county should stand for, they claim.
A leading voice in the flag’s opposition has been the Hamilton Area Anti-racism Coalition (HAARC). In a letter sent to the county board of supervisors dated Jan. 13, John Bailey, of HAARC, wrote, “No matter what this flag originally represented, it is now and will forever be part of one of the worst days in our country’s history! This flag is now a symbol of anarchy, racism, and insurrection.”
HAARC’S claims against the flag have been the minority, Hood said, though those who hold this opinion have a right to it, he added.
“I get it,” he said. “They have every right to say what they want and to either accept this thing or not accept it, or they’re in support of law enforcement or they’re not. I choose to support law enforcement, and all of the people who are in favor of this chose to support law enforcement, and it’s the massive majority of Madison County.”
The Oneida Dispatch’s poll on the subject proves that, Hood said. Currently, nearly 60% of voters said they believe the flag should remain flying as is. Nearly 600 people have responded to the poll as of Friday.
The sheriff added, “[The opposing side] want[s] [the flag] down claiming it’s some kind of racist flag, well I assure you, there’s no one who wants to wipe out racism more than I do. I’m 100% anti-racist, and I assure everybody that this flag is for our officers and showing support for them and nothing else, even though the narrative that the others want to put on this is a negative twist.”
The flag on the county flag pole was originally the most modern version of the Thin Blue Line flag, depicting a black-and-white American flag with a single stripe colored blue.
Many have criticized this flag as a violation of the United State flag code. American Legion post 1287, of Chittenango, sent a letter to the Daily Dispatch dated Feb. 9, stating, “unofficially,” they insist the Thin Blue Line flag that uses the United States flag as its design is in violation of the U.S. Flag Code.
The legion also noted what they say are key regulations and flag display points, including, “State County/city Government SHALL display the U.S. Flag and in addition may display the State, County, or City Flag. No other Flag is authorized. Exception: POWMIA Flag. A second Flag may be flown/displayed on the same hoist/flagpole below the United States Flag but it must be one regulation size smaller than the United States Flag.”
The legion also stated that the United States flag is sacred in its symbolism of courage, valor, perseverance, and bravery. No other flag should be necessary, the legion says.
The modern blue line flag was recently removed and traded out for a simpler version depicting a black background and a single blue stripe.
Hood explained his decision in trading the flag out for what he says is its original version. “The people I do listen to are veterans in our county. If they had concerns that the American flag was altered, I’ll listen to them all day long.”
Some think that the flag has come to mean “Blue Lives Matter,” a statement often in opposition to Black Lives Matter. “It has nothing to do with that, it is called the Thin Blue Line flag,” Hood stated firmly.
Waving this flag only made sense as the sheriff, Hood said; he’s the leader of area law enforcement, after all.
Members of HAARC who have spoken out against the flag have stated that they do respect law enforcement, and their request to get the flag taken down wasn’t meant as a jab at the job. It’s the message the flag sends to some residents that’s the issue, the group says; shouldn’t the flag represent all people, and not leave others feeling unsafe or threatened because of the flag’s connotations?
This opposition to the flag seems to be too coincidentally timed in a political climate, Hood speculated. He alleges that HAARC and other area groups seem to have immerged to politically oppose his backing of Republican Claudia Tenney in the race to become a U.S. House Representative for NY’S 22nd Congressional District.
Hood appeared in a political ad in favor of Tenney back in October 2020, and since then, these groups are taking a political stance, he said. “I think it’s more of a political witch hunt to go after the sheriff just because they weren’t happy that I supported a different candidate,” he said.
HAARC told the Dispatch they are not a political group, adding that they were formed in the spring of 2018. Their mission is to “disrupt white supremacy, work to remove systemic racism, and build an equitable and just community through dialogue, action, and education,” according to a group representative.
Can the sheriff and the anti-racism groups meet in the middle? Connecting together seems like a nobrainer, Hood said. He’s extended his willingness to collaborate, and HAARC has recently said that they are in contact with the sheriff’s office to get a meeting going between their group, the Anti-racism Coalition of Cazenovia (ARC-C), and the sheriff.
HAARC has sponsored many anti-racism events in the past, such as book discussions, potlucks, and community anti-racism training with Utica anti-racism trainer Patrick Johnson. Weekly rallies on Saturdays on the Hamilton Village green in support of Black Lives Matter have been ongoing for nearly 5 months. HAARC’S steering committee also meets regularly.
HAARC is also currently working with the Village of Hamilton’s Police Reform Committee and providing input to the Madison County Police Reform Committee.
Madison County has submitted their draft police reform plan for public comment. Hood says “There’s a lot of things that we’re implementing that’s going to make things better. A lot of work went into that plan.” He shouted out Madison County Public Information Officer Samantha Field for her hard work, as well as the reform committee and the public who gave their input. The sheriff remarked, “The majority of people I think are going to be very pleased with the plan.”
To anyone who doubts the intentions of the blue line flag, Hood says, “I am 100% anti-racism, and anything I can do to get rid of racism in Madison County, in the state, in America, I’ll do it. I want [those opposing the flag] to stop trying to twist this narrative in their perception that this is about racism.
“It’s about supporting the men and women of law enforcement in Madison County, the state of New York, and the United States of America.”