The following article contains editorial content by one of our staff writers at Law Enforcement Today.
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ANNAPOLIS, MD- Law enforcement officers across the country face overwhelming backlash for simply doing their job. Officers in Annapolis are under scrutiny as well, but this time it’s coming from their own police chief.
The latest apparent wrongdoing by police officers is their choice in face masks. On Wednesday, Law Enforcement Today reported on another instance of an officer being targeted for his choice in face covering. One Miami police officer is currently being “disciplined” for wearing a Trump 2020 mask while in uniform.
Now, Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson seems to be taking an even more drastic route in limiting officer’s free speech. On Friday, Jackson sent an email to all sworn officers in Annapolis that sent a clear message: masks that make a “political statement” are banned. Jackson went on to state that Thin Blue Line masks are also banned.
The email was obtained exclusively by LET through a source close to the Annapolis Police Department.
First, Jackson asked officers to continue taking health precautions to fight COVID:
“I support the brave men and women of the Annapolis Police Department and your health and safety are most important. Please continue to practice social distancing and always wear a mask when around others.”
Then the chief declared that pro-police masks are no longer accepted to attire:
“Masks that make a political statement, to include the Thin Blue Line are not to be worn while in uniform.”
The source who initially provided the email to LET called Jackson’s decision “hypocritical.” They highlighted that Annapolis officers are forced to follow stricter rules than even the mayor:
“It seems hypocritical that the law enforcement officers in Annapolis are held to a different standard than the elected officials including the mayor, who has been observed wearing pro George Floyd / BLM clothing.”
It is true that officers are being held to a higher standard than the mayor. Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley has been photographed several times showing, and voicing, his support for the Black Lives Matter movement. In fact, the mayors current Facebook profile picture is a candid photo of him wearing a shirt with George Floyd’s face on it and speaking at a podium with “Black Lives Matter” written across the front.
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley sporting political wear- Photo: Facebook
The mayor has also posted several photos of himself painting a memorial mural for Breonna Taylor in Annapolis. The portrait of Taylor is also captioned with “Black Lives Matter.”
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley paints Breonna Taylor mural- Photo: Facebook
While the mayor is freely posting politically charged pictures, officers are forbidden from wearing thin blue line masks. It’s abundantly clear that political statements are only acceptable if they come from highly ranked city officials.
However, unlike Mayor Buckley’s blatant show of political opinion, a Thin Blue Line mask gives away nothing about an officers political leanings. The Thin Blue Line is a symbol of support for law enforcement and is often times used by police to commemorate a fallen officer. Neither of the meanings behind the blue line are political, especially when worn by actual police officers.
Instead of aiding public relations for Annapolis police, the mask ban only creates resentment and confusion. If an officer attempts to cover their badge with a Thin Blue Line to honor a fallen officer, will he be reprimanded? If an officer wears a Thin Blue Line bracelet on duty, will he be demonized by his own superiors? Jackson’s words offer no answer, and he does not seem have one.
The informant went on to explain that the Thin Blue Line unifies law enforcement officers in these trying times:
“While law enforcement was unified in their abhorrence of the actions that led to the death of Mr. Floyd, the thin blue line symbol remains a unifying bond in the law enforcement profession and that often, the officers are the only thing holding the line between civilized society and crime, evidenced by the violent riots this past summer.”
They concluded their statement with by arguing that if Annapolis wants to ban symbols for city employees, then the decree should extend to all symbols:
“If Annapolis wants to remain symbol free then every official and symbol should be banned and Annapolis should only embrace that one symbol that unifies all – the American flag!”
For more on political correctness run amuck, this time in our schools, we invite you to read a recent article posted by Law Enforcement Today on the matter:
DIG DEEPER
HUBER HEIGHTS, OH – A mother is outraged after learning that her son’s middle-school teacher called him out in front of the class for having a Thin Blue Line flag as a background on Google Classroom.
Not only was the child ridiculed in front of others by the teacher, he was forced to remove it.
The mother, identified only as Danielle W., posted her story on a Facebook page called “Police Wives of America.” She reported that her son was attending an online class Sept. 24 for Huber Heights City Schools when the incident happened.
Her son’s English teacher noticed the flag, she said, and stopped classwork to humiliate him. Danielle said:
“His English teacher took it upon herself to ridicule him in front of his peers for 15 minutes after a student pointed out that he had a blue line flag. The teacher called him out in front of the whole class, told him she was instructed to tell him to remove it, and that he needed to excuse himself from class to do so, then come back after he fixed it!”
Rightfully appalled at the situation, Danielle was also upset that other children were allowed to display Black Lives Matter flags and the defiant fist raised in the air that now signifies BLM. There were allegedly no problems with those flags, only the thin blue line flag. Danielle said:
“After she pushed at him saying the flag was political, calling at a blue lives matter flag, telling him some people don’t believe in police, amongst other things my son maturely responding stating, ‘I didn’t mean to hurt feelings, this flag isn’t political it’s a blue line flag that represents fallen officers.’ ”
Danielle reported that the school principal and the superintendent have made it clear that the flag needed to be removed from her child’s Google Classroom account. Their reasoning was that they believe that it is political and that someone apparently had their feelings hurt over it. Danielle said:
“Not ONCE was it asked how my son felt, or if his feelings were hurt. He stated he would have to check the student handbook and online conduct to see if my son did any wrongdoing. Did something wrong, are you kidding me!?”
Danielle alleged that since the incident occurred, her son is now being called a racist and is being threatened. She said:
“He’s been threatened, embarrassed in front of his class, ridiculed for showing his support . . . his feelings matter!”
Danielle states that she and her family will stand up for her son, noting that her husband is a police officer. She said:
“This BLUE family is NOT backing down!”
Unfortunately, the battle did not end with Danielle’s complaints to the school superintendent. She later reported that she had been requested to meet with him for an informal meeting regarding the issue and agreed. Danielle said:
“The school’s attorney was there and said Johnny ‘violated online conduct’ as it caused TWO students to say something to the teacher. Saying it was considered a disruption to class . . . yet the teacher called upon my son, not once, but several times calling his name!
“My son’s feelings were NEVER considered yet it was brought to our attention yet again that my son using a Blue Line Flag as his profile picture was considered “Political” and it hurt feelings!
All the superintendent cared about was being recorded, yet he made the effort to record the conversation himself! And it was LIE after LIE completely contradicting themselves.
“With all due respect, the Blue Line Flag is not political, it represents fallen officers. That’s my son’s words and that’s my son’s feelings, that he respectfully told his teacher that day.
We have taught our children to respect others and their feelings and to always be respectful, but not let someone bully you or make feel bad over your own feelings and following your heart.”
Danielle may have lost this battle, but it is doubtful that she will take the loss sitting down.
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