Hingham officials double down on order for firefighters to remove thin blue line flags

Jul. 29--HINGHAM -- Town officials reiterated their instructions for Hingham firefighters to remove "thin blue line" flags from their fire trucks, even as the firefighters' union has continued to push back against the order.

"We will do this carefully, and we will do this respectfully so we can attempt to move forward as a community," said Town Administrator Tom Mayo, who added he expects the flags to be removed "within a couple of days."

Flags causing a furor

On Tuesday, more than 80 residents called in to a Board of Selectmen meeting to discuss the ongoing controversy.

Last week, a resident emailed selectmen raising concerns over the thin blue line flags, which are used to show support for police officers, that currently fly from Hingham fire trucks.

"The thin blue line flag has undoubtedly become a political symbol, most often used to counter Black Lives Matter and the fight against rampant police brutality," the email read in part.

The resident pointed out that selectmen recently declined to fly the LGBT+ Pride flag at town buildings during Pride month. At the time, selectmen cited a precedent that town buildings fly only the U.S. and Massachusetts flag, the flag of Hingham, flags honoring vets and PIO/MIA and the flag marking Peace Officers Memorial Day. Although the town does not have a formal, written policy regarding which flags can fly over municipal buildings, selectmen worried that allowing the Pride flag could expose the town to lawsuits from other groups who also wanted their flags flown.

Hingham Fire Chief Steve Murphy and Police Chief Glenn Olsson agreed with other town leaders that the flags should be removed, but the firefighters union has been adamant it will not comply.

"The flags have continued to fly with honor every day. They will have to be removed by someone other than a member of this union," Lt. Chris Melanson, president of Hingham Firefighters Local 2398, said in a message posted to the local's Facebook page on Monday.

Show of support, or white supremacist symbol?

Resident Andrew Turner said during the selectmen meeting that the thin blue lines flag has been "co-opted by white supremacists as a counter symbol to the Black Lives Matter movement," and that that fact alone should warrant removing the flags. The concept of a "thin blue line" itself raises complicated questions about policing, he said.

"This narrative highlights an assumed difference between officers and citizens, and the idea that police officers need to walk a line between chaos and order, which in my opinion perpetuates an "us versus them" mentality," he said. "It doesn't help build support in our communities between the officers and the public."

Another resident, Ed Johnson, said his father was a police officer who was killed on the job, and that he hopes the town can find other ways to honor officers. He said he felt for those who are receiving threats over the request to remove that flags, while worrying that the latest debate is hurtful to the family of Sgt. Michael Chesna, a Weymouth officer who was killed on the job two years ago.

"I hope we do have a policy, so no hate can happen to anyone in our town," he said

Back the Blue rally sharpens the debate

The discussion, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, came several hours after about 100 residents gathered outside Town Hall for a "back the blue" rally in support of police officers. The rally was called in response to the order for firefighters to remove the thin blue line flags.

Melissa Smith, a Hingham resident and candidate for state representative, said yesterday's rally drove home that the flag has become a calling card for white supremacists. She attended to support counter-protesters, and noticed attendees discussed things like Trump's reelection and abortion and made racist comments toward a Black counter-protestor.

"I think that fairly proves the point that it was wise for our select board and for our chiefs to distance themselves from this particular flag," she said.

Resident Hannah Connolly said she attended the rally as a counter-protestor, and that protestors directed vitriol at her and her friends. One man pointed at their group, she said, and said he "never wanted to see us again," then pointed to her Black friend and said "especially brown-eyes."

Another resident, Liza Shetty, noted that a Hingham fire truck bearing a thin blue line flag drove past the rally several times, and asked why firefighters were "allowed to engage in a political rally."

In response, Mayo said town officials would "look into this occurrence to see if any policies have been violated and take appropriate action," promising to do so "in a respectful manner."

A problem that "doesn't happen in Massachusetts"

Hingham Police Chief Glenn Olsson said during the meeting that the current debates around policing have worn on the department's officers.

"We are experiencing tremendous pressure that has really taken a toll on everyone who serves in our profession and the fire profession," he said. "Our officers are stressed out right now. They're worn out. They're confused."

The fact that officers have had to perform all their duties during the pandemic is just one example of the intense pressure that comes with the job, he said. The social unrest in recent weeks has also placed increased stress on officers.

Officers are "trying to figure out... why we're being held responsible for something that doesn't happen in Massachusetts. I'm not saying we're perfect... but by and large, Massachusetts' training and qualities and rules and regulations and policies far exceed other areas," he said.

Fire Chief Murphy spoke briefly during the meeting to answer a question about how long the flags have flown on Hingham fire trucks. Firefighters put the flags there for about two months in 2018 to honor Chesna, and have flown them on the anniversary of his death for the past two years.

Selectmen weigh in

Selectmen chair Mary Power said recent discussions around flags have highlighted the need for the town to have a formal, written policy governing which types of flags may fly at town buildings before introducing any new flags into the mix.

"I think it's important to act consistently," she said.

Power said the town has historically been a bastion of "civil discourse," and urged residents to uphold that tradition during this latest debate.

"I think when things get divisive, they get in the way of listening, understanding and working together to find a path forward, which has really been the hallmark of this town for nearly 400 years," she said.

The selectmen all signed on to a statement originally drafted by Selectman Joe Fisher, the board's liaison to the police department. In it, they reiterated their support for the police department while standing by their decision to enforce the town's flag policy.

Selectmen said in their statement that they have "stood with our men and women in blue" in response to demands to defund the police in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and other instances of police violence, including a citizen's hold on the police budget during Town Meeting last month.

"No group has more respect for the men and women of the Police Department than the Board of Selectmen," they said.

The statement also condemned threats levied at the resident who requested the flags be taken down. Since the request has gone public, the resident has faced "ceaseless and vicious" harassment, including threats to his life and harassment that has expanded to his family.

"Such conduct debases any attempt at public discourse and makes hypocrites of those who would call for respect for public safety officers while simultaneously threatening the safety of others," the statement read.

Follow Audrey Cooney on Twitter at @Audrey__Cooney.

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