The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Recent grad’s senior project honors police department
Tucker Keeney’s senior project not only brandished his creative and artistic talents but was a show of support and gratitude for those who serve the public as law enforcement officers.
Keeney, 18, a recent Chardon High School graduate, chose to create handcrafted Thin Blue Line USA flags for members of the Chardon Police Department.
“I think I’ve always had a respect and admiration for both military and service workers…I really know that police officers in Chardon are some of the most caring people not only in our community but out there overall,” he said. “I wanted to do something to let them know the time and the risk they take, the community realty appreciated them.”
Each year Chardon High School seniors are asked to work on a project with the goal of making an impact on an individual or the community.
Keeney had previously made traditional USA flags for several military veterans at Vitality Church in Mentor and later saw a wood-burned Thin Blue Line flag on YouTube. It was that viewing, along with his father’s input, that sparked the idea to create them for each of the 19 Chardon Police officers.
The flags, which took approximately 45 hours to complete, were made systematically. Working on them as a single collection Keeney prepped all of the stripes, charring both light and dark burns to create contrast.
A stencil created for the stars was used as an outline for painting. Finally a font was chosen to design each officer’s name for engraving on the bottom right stripe. Three coats of high-gloss polyurethane provided a distinctive shine as well as protection.
“It didn’t seem like a project. It seemed like an excuse to do something nice,” Keeney said.
He first presented the completed project at a virtual Chardon City Council meeting attended by Chief Scott Niehus.
There the chief said that he was “flabbergasted” upon seeing the flags and “when the initial idea was floated I had no idea what the results of Tucker’s hard labors would be.”
He told Keeney “we’re ecstatic and we’re very thankful for your show of generosity and your show of support for our officers.”
With the assistance of Niehus and Chardon High Principal Doug Murray an in-person presentation to police officers was arranged at the police department.
The gathering helped to reveal the significance of Keeney’s work.
“I knew that the blue stripe on the flag was important but I think it holds a higher meaning to those officers,” Kenney said. “I saw that it was really impactful and I could tell it really resonated with them.”
His interest in woodworking began while a high school freshman when his grandfather gifted him with a set of tools.
“I’ve always had an interest in making stuff. I’ve gotten better at it… I made a pretty substantial shop
I don’t think many people would have,” Keeney said. “Now more than ever I’m pretty obsessed with woodworking. It’s my way to have a creative outlet.”
His skill has led him to have a hand in building a chicken coop and to fashion wooden silhouettes of the mythical Bigfoot creature. He noted that proceeds from the sale of his works will be used to purchase more tools.
Through his efforts Keeney has not only received the gratitude of police officers but the admiration of his principal.
“Community is our top core value at Chardon,” Murray said. “Tucker epitomized our values, culture, and commitment to servant leadership with his extraordinary senior capstone project.
“Not only did he acquire a phenomenal new skill in woodworking, he demonstrated humility, and deep respect with his presentation to the Chardon Police Department,” he added.
“He is an exceptional man of character.”