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January 22, 2023 - 12:00 PM
The Thin Blue Line patch cannot be worn on the uniforms of officers working for the Vancouver Police Department.
Somebody complained about a VPD officer wearing one of the patches at a Land Back rally in December 2021, so the Vancouver Police Board clarified on Jan. 19 that attaching the symbol to a uniform is considered an unauthorized modification.
A 17-page briefing report was prepared for the board about why the Thin Blue Line is controversial.
Citing the murder of George Floyd and the way the Canadian government has historically treated Indigenous people, the report points out how Canadian police are finding themselves under more scrutiny.
It also explains that the symbol has a historical meaning tracing back to the 19th Century. The line demonstrates a willingness to protect and serve the community, and can be seen as “a sacred symbol” for families of fallen officers.
“The black portion expresses mourning, the blue represents the Thin Blue Line and the generic badge represents all police and peace officers.”
Part of the reason why the symbol is being perceived negatively in Canada is because of race relations in the U.S., the report says.
“…similar to how the Canadian flag was recently co-opted by the ‘Freedom Convoy.’ Consequently, some community members associate the Canadian Thin Blue Line flag with the U.S. version, and its use by counter movements in the U.S. in the same way that Canadians currently feel some uncertainty about the meaning of our national flag.”
The term Thin Blue Line and its symbol exist in the public domain so there is no authority that controls use of the them, the report says, “potentially degrading their meaning or changing the meaning in the eyes of people outside the policing community.”
Most other police departments across Canada have similar policies banning members from displaying the patch.
“The only Canadian police agency known to have specifically approved wearing of the Thin Blue Line flag patch is the Metro Vancouver Transit Police.”
Despite the good intentions of officers who may want to display the patch, it has generated concern and controversy, the report concludes.
The police board voted unanimously to receive the report.
Officers are allowed to display the symbol on personal items that they bring into work, such as duffle bags.
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