2020 has been, without a doubt, the most challenging year Americans have faced in modern history. We have endured a global pandemic, social unrest, and massive movements for change. Our Law Enforcement professionals have been there to help us through our darkest times. While almost everyone agrees there are many ways we can improve society’s relationship with policing, we must also honor the sacrifices they are making for us.

This year, the number of Law Enforcement Officers who have been killed in the line of duty is up 81% since 2019. . 81%. We continue to lose officers due to 9/11 illnesses and there has been an enormous surge in deaths by gunfire, but the number 1 cause of death in 2020 is Covid 19. Police suicides are on the rise as well, which is no surprise given the surge of violence and public contempt for law enforcement.  There has been much confusion about the Blue Line flag recently. One Millburn/ Short Hills resident sent a letter to the editor about the symbol. In the letter, he quotes a Dallas Police Sgt who offered his perspective on the Blue Line Flag symbol. 

Here’s an excerpt from the letter and the article that was published.

“For a whole bunch of reasons, many people are conflating the meaning of "Blue Wall of Silence," and "Thin Blue Line.” Also, a similitude of the Thin Blue Line flag has been used by the now defunct Blue Lives Matter "counter movement,” thereby causing more confusion about the flag’s meaning.

The Blue Line flag has nothing to do with comic book symbology, counter movements, white supremacists, walls of silence or any other form of hate despite the narrative currently being offered.

Dallas Police Sgt. Stephen Bishopp has a doctorate degree and has studied police stress, use of force and officer misconduct. The “thin blue line” symbol existed before several of his colleagues were gunned down by a sniper in July 2016, he said. To him, it symbolizes respect and understanding for the families of officers killed in the line of duty — including suicides. “When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

We should let the honorable honor their own. We should let them keep this one because it wasn’t ours to take. Or anyone else’s for that matter.”

https://www.odmp.org/search/year​

https://www.odmp.org/search?cause=COVID19&from=2020&to=2020&filter=nok9​

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/millburn-slash-short-hills/articles/letter-to-the-editor-the-blue-line-flag-honors-people-who-swear-an-oath-to-protect-us