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Archive 1

Missing "Manchester" source

Looking through the history of this article I believe the link that was indtended as the reference citation of <Manchester/> is https://www.courant.com/community/manchester/hc-news-manchester-thin-blue-line-20210519-wm6y6g3vxvfmzoh4nnxmbg55bm-story.html however upon reading the article I don't think it completely backs up the claim here that the city had an injunction against flying the thin blue line flag (as well as hinting the rainbow flag too). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Fulner (talk • contribs) 20:45, 6 July 2021 (UTC)

Emergency Medical Services

To my knowledge (been working in EMS for 5 years) the "Thin Green Line" has never been associated with EMS. EMS has a similar symbol, but it is a white line with blue lines on the top and bottom (blue where black is, and white where blue is on the Thin Blue Line). There is even a Wikipedia article about this ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_White_Line_(EMS_Emblem) ). I am removing EMS from the thin green line part and creating another bullet point for EMS and the thin blue line. 67.165.98.28 Medic8613 (talk) 19:57, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

This Article Isn't A Stub

I think this article is large enough that we can consider it to be no longer a stub.

I think article length is irrelevant to whether or not it should be a stub. Seeing as this article contains little information, and only one poorly cited viewpoint, it should be flagged.

Deletion review or nomination

Can somebody help with the deletion process for this article? Thank you. --Malerooster (talk) 05:24, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Citations for material being added going forward

Can any material being added going forward include citations please? I haven't nominated an article for deletion, but since my post above went unanswered, I will try shortly. Thank you, --Malerooster (talk) 03:06, 1 January 2013 (UTC)

Yes, no, maybe??--Malerooster (talk) 18:58, 7 February 2013 (UTC)
Is this a RS or external link? --Malerooster (talk) 05:43, 12 February 2013 (UTC)
Hello?--Malerooster (talk) 00:34, 29 June 2013 (UTC)

Repeated Vandalisum

I will cease my constant corrections of this page solely based upon my feeling badly for those in the security/loss prevention professions. A group consisting of anybody who wants in must be hard to defend as has been evidenced by this tertiary source. I wish you the best in the vigil of your retail establishments and may you always hold the thin yellow line strongly and please remember to call 911 when things get scary!

The user without an account has repeatedly vandamalized this page with information without citation or improperly cited links. The user is identified as- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/98.245.155.68 - this has been going on for months. I am not a high level or user of this site and do not know what to do to fix the issue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Schemel (talk • contribs) 22:57, 6 December 2015 (UTC)

Our page hero struck again using a different web address today. He also deleted this section of the talk page.Schemel (talk) 23:24, 10 December 2015 (UTC)

Please stop deleting the talk page . I see that in your edit that you posted that "Security officers are not Police officers". This statement has nothing to do with the topic of this page. Only one of the groups mentioned are police officers. EMTs, firemen and military members are not Police officers ether. This page is about an emblem and the associated variations. it is not the place to post your personal opinions or feelings about security officers or any other group. Please stop intentionally damaging this page.Schemel (talk) 22:00, 11 December 2015 (UTC)

  • Schemel and 98.245.155.68 The thin green line does appear to be used by both claimed causes. Note though that neither really meets the Wikipedia:Golden rule and neither have Independent sources so both are borderline WP:PROMOTION for the causes - however as both groups are good causes I'm inclined to let them be as is, however if this back and forth continues then the only solution may be to remove both as inefficiently sourced. I have removed all references from The Thin Green Line so that article stays on topic - i.e. the documentary, and added a simple see also to this article. I have improved the refs for Security guard usage of the thin green line, not that facebook groups are good sources, but at least they have actual links. I have also added a ref for the "The Thin Green Line Foundation" to show the "Australian Park Rangers" has a valid claim. Hopefully that can be an end to this and no one gets blocked, and the content does not get removed as failing the Golden rule. All the best KylieTastic (talk) 13:04, 12 December 2015 (UTC)

Creation of emblem

Who first created this? To whom is the symbolism attributed to? How did they fail to create a noticeable distinction in the symbolism between the public and criminals? One blue line on a field of black graphically symbolizes that police are more important than black people, not that they help anyone, or do anything, or need sympathy. Also, easy to mistake for Leather Pride flag, or the BDSM flag . Surely there has been some comedy-of-errors style confusion somewhere? Perhaps bringing police supporters accidentally into closer contact with homosexuals and thus helping the police subculture to see LGBTQs as human beings worthy of equal & fair treatment?

Article states first use is in Great Britain after 1988 movie of the same name, but doesn't nail down exactly when or who made it. Was the Leather Pride flag first? Surely the police were inspired as a response to the appearance of the rainbow flag stickers symbolizing LGBTQ equal rights Rainbow flag (LGBT movement) that started to appear at least by 1989 "In 1989, the rainbow flag came to nationwide attention in the United States after John Stout sued his landlords and won when they attempted to prohibit him from displaying the flag from his West Hollywood, California, apartment balcony." ? Indeed, some LGBTQ are police of course, so was the creation of a police symbol at around the same time as rainbow flag symbolism because of this?

The Thin Blue Line (1988 film) has no mention of anything to do with this flag. Why is that? Ace Frahm (talk) 20:48, 17 October 2016 (UTC)

Requested move 11 March 2017

The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.

The result of the move request was: all moved. (non-admin closure) TonyBallioni (talk) 14:21, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

– This seems like the obvious WP:PRIMARYTOPIC, the others being works of fiction that take their titles from the emblem or phrase. I suspect most users who search the phrase want to know about the phrase itself, as I was just now. Also, the case for WP:THE seems quite straightforward here. (I'm not recommending eliminating it from the DAB since the films and TV series use it, but that could really go either way.) --BDD (talk) 23:33, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page or in a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.

Pretty sure that American flag with the blue line wasn't popular until a bunch of racist assholes started selling them in response to Black Lives Matter. USA Today has an article showing the flag at a white nationalist rally. It may not have originated as an anti-black emblem, but it certainly correlates. In my neck of the woods pretty much anybody with a confederate flag on their truck also has one of these.209.169.70.122 (talk) 03:05, 9 September 2017 (UTC) sorry for responding to my own question, but I just noticed the Wiki article on Blue Lives Matter specifically says the flag is the emblem for that group, which was made in response to BLM. Not sure how it went from supporting police to showing up at neo-nazi rallies, and apparently the makers of the flag denounced its use there. Anyway, when my kids asked what it meant, I explained that some people think it's ok for cops to shoot black people without provocation.209.169.70.122 (talk) 03:26, 9 September 2017 (UTC)

Found the Marxist bigot. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.152.74.141 (talk) 00:11, 8 June 2019 (UTC)

This is a powerful symbol that unites law enforcement supporters. It is amazing how this symbol has such meaning within the families and communities of law enforcement. Let's think about this... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Leo8493 (talk • contribs) 04:17, 1 January 2018 (UTC)

Symbols Section on the interpretation of the thin blue line

In this Wikipedia article, the quote "Proponents say that the idea behind the various graphics that incorporate a thin blue line is that law enforcement is a thin blue line that stands between chaos and order or between criminals and the potential victims of crime, and it is primarily used to show solidarity with police." is supposedly supported by reference 7, which is this article https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/11/16/hundreds-line-canonsburg-streets-to-pay-final-respects-to-fallen-officer/

But nothing in that news article supports what I've quoted above. The text of the news article states "The American flag hung high with the thin blue line flag hanging below. That flag symbolizes respect for a fallen officer." And the second embedded video in the news article contains footage of a reporter saying the same thing.

Instead, here is an article that might make a better source for what the thin blue line flag means. https://apnews.com/241443b1c69a48c1824f043517b5197a From the 5th paragraph: "Thin Blue Line USA, which sells the flags, says the thin blue line represents offices in the line of duty and the black represents fallen officers." Thin Blue Line USA is a manufacturer of those flags and representing their interpretation should be more meaningful than the vague "Proponents say..." that is on the current version of this Wikipedia article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.233.190.72 (talk) 22:51, 2 November 2019 (UTC)

Oh no

I violated 3RR. Geekpotato24 (talk to me!) 20:50, 10 July 2020 (UTC)

Major cleanup needed

This article needs major cleanup. None of the references are acceptable reliable secondary sources. Much of what's stated has been tagged with "citations needed". I'm going to start by trying to find reliable secondary sources.--Nowa (talk) 01:11, 30 November 2016 (UTC)--Nowa (talk) 01:11, 30 November 2016 (UTC) 

   LazyFish25 (talk) 06:15, 13 August 2020 (UTC)

Who is writing this garbage...

Who is editing this? More then half sound like idiots making things up and trying to pass opinion pieces off as references! Next thing you know I'm going to look up criminal on wiki and its going to say hero lmfao 🤣 I was going to take the a long while and fix all the mistakes and add factual information but why? Especially when I've seen some people try and another idiot comes and switches it to lies again. I am a productive member of society and could spend my free time relaxing. If anyone with brains is reading this, thin colored flags stand for the colored type of first responders. Red is fire fighter, blue is police, whit n blue is ems. Yellow is dispatch ect. It shows they're united and those who have fallen in line of duty are still apart of them. Any of this other crap is literally made of garbage from people who are either ignorant or dumb Dla333 (talk) 05:27, 12 August 2020 (UTC)

@Dla333: You could "spend your free time relaxing" but instead you came here to lie about the references you didn't look at, and then complain that people can't right great wrongs. —{CrypticCanadian} 07:00, 13 August 2020 (UTC)

Please remove those random flags of other countries

Please remove random flags of other countries if there are no reports that these countries actually use the term "thin blue line" or the flag associated with it. Not everyone around the world follows every single thing invented in the USA, nor everyone has exactly the same problems as in the USA. Even the police uniform is not actually blue in every single country around the world.

There is no "thin blue line" term used in the Czech Republic and the way the thin blue line is drawn on the flag doesn't even make sense. If you look at the history, a random guy have decided to upload monochrome flags of all countries and drawn a blue line over them. Wicked (talk) 10:34, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

I have checked the Czech source included in the article and while I cannot read the language, I can deduce from flags that were included that these at least exist outside of Wikipedia. That the supposedly Czech flag was not included in this source lets me conclude that it does not exist. I have tagged all the flags not mentioned there as needing a source. If these sources are not forthcoming they should be deleted.
The Czech article contained another Czech blue line flag. This could be included instead. Str1977 (talk) 17:58, 4 September 2020 (UTC)

Code of silence

Think blue line is not a code of silence. This is absurd. Please remove. Mikefinvegas (talk) 00:21, 9 August 2020 (UTC)

A police code of silence is one meaning of "thin blue line." This meaning is attested in journalism at least as far back as the 1970s, as you can see in the citations. It might not be a meaning that you like, and it is perhaps not the primary meaning, but judging by the sources it is not uncommon. Jno.skinner (talk) 21:21, 11 August 2020 (UTC)

Whether or not that claim/theory has any merit, is ridiculous to list that in the opening of the article like that. It should at least be moved to a different section. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.38.208.110 (talk) 12:21, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

I agree. The assertion is based on one law review article, hardly evidence of a common belief that "thin blue line" means the same as, or "overlaps" with, the "blue wall of silence". Mark D Worthen PsyD (talk) [he/his/him] 20:51, 5 December 2020 (UTC)
I made appropriate edits so that the assertion has due weight in the article (diff). I frankly believe the assertion (that "think blue line" means the same or overlaps with "blue wall of silence") should be eliminated from the article, but I thought it best to discuss here first. Mark D Worthen PsyD (talk) [he/his/him] 21:00, 5 December 2020 (UTC)

Punisher skull

Why is this even in this article ? It has no merit and I will remove it unless someone can provide relevance Cowsthatfloat (talk) 03:52, 29 December 2020 (UTC)

What's wrong with it exactly? The Punisher skull appears to be a symbol often used in conjunction with the main topic of the article. Are you saying this is factually incorrect, or off-topic, or what? Jno.skinner (talk) 16:59, 29 December 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 January 2021

EditzLOLRoblox (talk) 20:56, 25 January 2021 (UTC)

Please Let me edit.

 Not done: this is not the right page to request additional user rights. You may reopen this request with the specific changes to be made and someone will add them for you, or if you have an account, you can wait until you are autoconfirmed and edit the page yourself. RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 22:48, 25 January 2021 (UTC)

This article isn't complete without mentioning the mortal terror it invokes in the general public

This article isn't complete without mentioning the mortal terror the thin blue line on a law enforcement employee invokes in the general public, who mainly see it as a symbol of the Police branch of white supremacists. It's also a line of silence, of the obligation most officers are inculcated with to never bear witness against another officer, no matter the crime. It also informs every Black or other minority American that the actual Law won't have much bearing in an encounter with that particular Officer. (talk) 00:53, 22 March 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 June 2021

Good morning, I would like to add a bit of recent, simple information about the "Thin Blue Line" topic in Iceland, specifically in the "Injunctions against use" paragraph of this page. I'm not very familiar with edit request of semi-protected pages so I apologise if this is not the right way to do it. I added 4 sources (URLs) as references. I would write as follow:

In Iceland

  • In October 2020, the photo [1] of an Icelandic police officer raised concerns amongst the population, because of the evident display on the chest of the controversial Vinland flag and the even more controversial Thin Blue Line flag, overlaid on the Icelandic one.[2] On 12 May 2021, Minister of Justice Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir has issued new regulations [3] which in part, ban the adornment of those symbols, on the official police uniform.[4]

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ [3]
  4. ^ [4]

2.229.239.68 (talk) 13:14, 19 June 2021 (UTC) Your friendly unregistered anonymous neighborhood user

Is this a type of request where we need to gather consensus? If yes, I support such a change because it adds to worldwide view of the subject. Jno.skinner (talk) 16:02, 21 June 2021 (UTC)
 Done with some modifications for copyediting. Living Concrete (talk) 05:50, 5 July 2021 (UTC)

History

The talk about "Thin Red Line" should be relegated to a section on etymology. This is not the history of the use of "thin blue line" - "Thin blue line" has very little to do with the "thin red line" - they are different terms referring to different things and the history of the thin red line is not terribly relevant to the history of the use and popularisation of "thin blue line". Derived suggests one came directly from the other and that's not really the case. Appropriated symbolism might be a better description. This article needs serious flushing out but due to it's protected status I can't add any details. I am asking the page handlers to put in some real work to improve it. Thanks. 198.48.136.149 (talk) 02:43, 9 November 2021 (UTC)


As everyone knows the term 'Thin Blue Line' derives from the expression 'The Thin Red Line' - look it up. I would like to know the origin and possibly date of the 'thin blue line' derivative, and the history of its usage. Colt .55 (talk) 22:15, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

Its use goes back to before 1920: for example "thin blue line" seems to appear as a set phrase in quotes in the NYPD Annual Report 1921[5] --Rumping (talk) 12:06, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

Disclosing info

The reason for this decal rather than using a badge is for officers to know what it means. This info shouldn't be displayed on this public website site. If I wanted civilians and bad guys to know that I was a cop, I would just put a "I'm a cop" sticker on my car. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.72.144.1 (talk) 15:03, 18 March 2009 (UTC) Newsflash. People have known for a very long time. Perhaps you should learn to carry an ID?


Wikipedia needs to check their information contained here in this article, as it is not accurate. I will not share my knowledge, as it may tend to counter its' intent. However, I will tell you that the symbol of which you write is not called "The Thin Blue Line (emblem)". Perhaps starting with this revelation, Wikipedia can research this topic/subject again and post true and correct information.


Then perhaps you could point this article in the right direction? While it is helpful to state that something is incorrect, if you do nothing to correct the error(s), you have contributed very little. Your cryptic comment about the emblem's "intent" is not a good place to (re-)start research on this topic. A little more help, if you don't mind??? Jtwhetten (talk) 18:49, 11 December 2007 (UTC)


Wow, cops really think they are all that. Enjoy avoiding your speeding tickets, or (alternatively) please improve the article! If it's really a secret than why do they explain it on the website that sells them? http://www.epolicesupply.com/catalog/Thin_Blue_Line-29-1.html141.158.119.14 (talk) 15:15, 14 October 2009 (UTC)

This "article" is biased and misleading. Firstly, the second citation links to an article which does not at any point assert a Federal requirement for blood testing of truck drivers after crashes (furthermore, I believe the author has confused truck drivers and those with commercial drivers licenses). Second, it is highly uncommon for police officers to place this decal on their cars. In fact, it often identifies one as an officer and therefore attracts negative attention. There is little mystery to the general public what it stands for. As for the bias in the article. It blatantly assumes that a mere sticker on a car allows officers to circumvent the law. Here's something that even the dumbest of people can figure out...police officers have discretion! So there is little need to have a sticker on one's car when you can easily identify yourself as an officer during the traffic stop. Whether such actions are right is not something that anyone can control, and frankly such behavior extends to all professions as we are all human. The very fact that this "article" is 100% controversial, (as are its comments) should deem it unworthy even by wikipedia's low academic standard.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________


As the decades roll by I am saddened by what appears to me to be a steady deterioration of the general "intelligence" level of what are supposedly law enforcement personnel.

I will not delve into details nor point out any evidence of my subjective belief from this Wiki topic or elsewhere BUT I will mention what I believe this topic needs to have included...

the sociological implications of the "thin blue line." The barriers between the general non-law enforcement populace and those engaged with law enforcement at a level of involvement that makes the "cops" etc. view the "non-cops" as outsiders, as possible threats, an "us versus them" sort of affair as often felt by active military personnel when they are out and about in the civilian world.

A similar subjective feeling may be felt by those who spent time in a penitentiary doing "hard time" after being released and wandering in the "free world."

After my return from a second overseas tour to southeast Asia in the mid-1970s I wandered through California for several months, in a "daze" that is hard to describe but it was a very strange period taking months to depart. It finally ended I again, felt a part of "normal" society.

I wonder if those who experience the "thin blue line" are able to just jump across that psychological/sociological line at will? Perhaps after departing law enforcement and enough time has elapsed; maybe not.

The "thin blue line" covers an enormous number of aspects of being in law enforcement. Ample evidence from past events shows the existence of the "thin blue line" has led to police covering up for cop-committed crimes such as planting evidence or withholding evidence or lying on the witness stand in court or any multitude of little "fibs" to full-scale lying that has led to innocent people spending decades in prison and even possibly leading to wrongful executions.

There is AMPLE evidence in a multitude of sources from trial transcripts to non-fiction books to a plethora of sources. There can be NO DENIAL the "thin blue line" exists.

Failure for Wiki to include the socio-psychological aspects of the "thin blue line" is, to me, a grievous error.

However, it IS, admittedly, an extremely complicated topic and to describe its many permutations would assuredly require a lengthy multi-page mini-dissertation requiring a learned mind far superior to my own. 0bbop 69.152.64.66 (talk) 05:08, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

Putting "intelligence" in scare quotes suggests that finding one should not be difficult.Lewis Goudy (talk) 10:28, 20 November 2021 (UTC)

Untrue history.

This is untrue. The history and meaning of the thin blue line is not the same and the blue wall of silence. You’re mistaken and spreading misinformation for the purpose of causing more division. 47.151.221.167 (talk) 21:29, 4 February 2022 (UTC)

Are there any rights legally for people who don't want to be confronted by police with a defaced Union Jack upon them? Would these police wear an American Confederate flag patch, I assume not, but they wear an American far right blue line symbol. What if they have to police some black American tourists, who are then subjected to a far right symbol of which they will be well aware of its meaning to them? Middle More Rider (talk) 16:28, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

Variations

The following variations of Thin Blue Line were listed in the article. I've copied them here for further vetting. If any of these are notable, then separate articles can be made and linked via See Also.

After the popularity of The Thin Blue Line emblem for law enforcement came a number of other "thin lines".

United Kingdom:

United States of America:

  • The Thin Orange Line – Search and Rescue Personnel, sometimes used by civilians possessing a concealed carry weapon permit
  • The Thin Red Line - firefighters Possible reference?
  • The Thin Grey Line Fugitive Recovery Agents, Bail Bonds Officers, Bounty Hunters
  • The Thin Silver Line – Corrections officers
  • The Thin Yellow Line – Tow Truck Drivers, The Old Line for Loss Prevention Officers, Security Officers (Now adopted the Thin Green Line)
  • The Thin Green Line - Military, Park Rangers, US Border Patrol, and Environment Services Personnel
  • The Thin Gold Line – Dispatcher
  • The Thin White Line – Emergency medical services. The thin white line differs from other thin lines in that the background is blue instead of black, with a white line crossing horizontally through the middle. EMS also still uses the "Thin Orange Line" which is primarily used by Search and Rescue.
  • The Thin Black Line – Nurses. The thin black line differs from other thin lines because it is a white background with a horizontal black line through the middle.

I found this listing of thin green line and thin red line patches on ebay. Ebay listings are not adequate to show notability, but at least they show they exit. We are still awaiting reliable secondary sources that discuss them.--Nowa (talk) 00:24, 13 December 2016 (UTC)

The mention of the thin “beige” line is from a Reddit post and isn’t a real thing, the cited articles make no reference to it. I think it originally came from a Reddit post. HoneySmacks (talk) 18:59, 29 August 2022 (UTC)

Thank you for noting this, HoneySmacks. I have checked the sources and removed the uncited reference to a beige line. Laterthanyouthink (talk) 06:05, 30 August 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 21 September 2022

You've spelt colour wrong, given this is primarily a UK article with a UK history, colour should be spelt using British English! 84.65.206.83 (talk) 10:55, 21 September 2022 (UTC)

 Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{edit semi-protected}} template. As long as it is consistent within the article, it doesn't matter which is used. See WP:ENGVAR RudolfRed (talk) 15:14, 21 September 2022 (UTC)
Colour is the international form of the spelling for all other countries that use English, color is the websterised US form, should that form overule the international form of spelling?
Middle More Rider (talk) 03:30, 6 December 2022 (UTC)

Prevalence of White Nationalism Accusations

I've noticed a worrying trend on this website where many seemingly innocuous sociopolitical concepts have the weighty tag of 'associated with white nationalism' or 'far right ideologies' haphazardly slapped onto them. Now I know Wikipedia isn't exactly the most bipartisan repository of information but when your sources don't even support the link (they appeared to be various articles of police stations removing the line specifically to AVOID offense). Surely that's a sign that this site may be at danger of spreading harmful and divisive disinformation. This tag seems especially controversial since the Police (at least in the UK) come from many different backgrounds and it feels morally wrong to associate them with white nationalism just because of the symbol of duty and justice they prefer to use. --2A00:23C8:418C:C601:48D0:E8FD:E2D1:D15C (talk) 00:44, 23 December 2022 (UTC)

Cuban flag

Unless it’s a creation from Cuban-American community, it’s not a real thing in Cuba. The only reference I find online is this same page, so it’s quite unlikely it’s ever existed. Police forces in Cuba won’t take a position that doesn’t align with the government’s decisions, and so far Cuba only has one ensign for every use. FracasarBetter (talk) 15:25, 15 January 2023 (UTC)

Pretty sure it's a Puerto Rican flag. The source doesn't caption it at all but the image they used is used on amazon listings that mention Puerto Rico. As you can see from the tags I added, the Krimi-Plzeň source really sucks. This "Cuban" flag and the other flags from it should really be removed unless we have better sources, especially the Czech flag (the source is selling the patches and they don't even match the image we have). I only decided to keep the flags from it and just tag the issues because I already removed a bunch of flags that weren't sourced at all.
I've found plenty of online vendors selling the Australian, Texan, and Puerto Rican thin blue line flags so they're probably used to an extent but I can't find any verified use by departments, individual officers, or notable pro-police groups. The closest I've found is in Australia of an activist group showing its use which I can't find any public response or media coverage of and use of a different variant. I think that first source is good enough to keep the Australian flag as long as we say "as reported by police accountability activist group Action Ready" or something similar. The source for the Hong Kong flag is even worse so I don't think a similar wording would be good enough to resolve that issue. NuclearElevator (talk) 04:23, 16 January 2023 (UTC)

Recent Switzerland source

Maybe one more occurrence to be added at the end of the list: https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/un-policier-assurant-lordre-autour-du-proces-arborait-un-symbole-polemique-569859175513 (During a process against 6 officers accused of murder Mike Ben Peter in Lausanne, 2018, a cop showed the symbol and has been ejected from the tribunal). Look also at the French language version of this same page. Sp1een (talk) 17:51, 15 June 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 June 2023

The Thin Blue Line was also seen and used during a trial in Renens (Switzerland) where 6 police officiers were charged with the murder of a black man (Mike Ben Peter). One policeman in charge of the security of the trial was seen wearing the Thin Blue Line [1] as well as [2] (references used on the french version of the article) Wholeseum (talk) 14:35, 20 June 2023 (UTC)

References

  1. ^ https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/vaud/j-ai-applique-ce-qu-on-m-a-enseigne
  2. ^ https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/un-policier-assurant-lordre-autour-du-proces-arborait-un-symbole-polemique-569859175513
 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. voorts (talk/contributions) 22:16, 23 June 2023 (UTC)

Banned in Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

Sources in French: [6][Cet insigne jugé raciste est désormais interdit dans les polices vaudoises!]

https://www.lausanne.ch/apps/actualites/Next/serve.php?id=14816 77.58.19.32 (talk) 20:05, 28 May 2024 (UTC)

Incorrect history, biasness, and misinformation

The Thin Blue Line, as it is used today, has no direct correlation with the historical "thin red line" referenced in this article. While the article touches on how the Army once used similar terminology, there is no connection between that usage and modern policing, let alone its contemporary meaning. The current and modern use of the Thin Blue Line stands independent of these historical references.

Additionally, the following statement is both unsubstantiated and opinionated, lacking factual support and context: "According to a 2018 law review article, 'thin blue line' also refers to an unwritten code of silence used to cover up police misconduct, also known as the blue wall of silence, a term dating back to 1978." This is a one-sided view, and for every citation like this, there are numerous credible sources that counter such claims. For reference: https://nationalpolice.org/main/that-thin-blue-line-what-does-it-really-mean/ https://www.flagsofvalor.com/blogs/news/the-thin-blue-line https://www.police1.com/police-history/articles/what-does-the-thin-blue-line-flag-mean-2J3500lyyaGueEo0/

Moreover, the article introduces bias by presenting an unbalanced perspective in passages like the following: "The 'thin blue line' has also been associated with white nationalists in the United States, particularly after the Unite the Right rally in 2017, who fly Thin Blue Line flags at their rallies. The thin blue line US flag has appeared regularly at Trump rallies. The flag, which ostensibly stands for solidarity with the police, appeared as well as at the January 6 United States Capitol attack, during which police officers were beaten and attacked by the mob of Trump supporters and far right extremists."

This comparison unfairly implies that the flag is intrinsically tied to extremist movements, which is misleading. Using this logic would be akin to claiming that because certain groups use the American flag, the flag itself is tied to radical ideologies. There are no substantiated claims to support that the Thin Blue Line flag is inherently associated with white nationalists or other extremist groups.

I recommend that this article be revised to remove bias and misinformation, presenting a balanced and factual account of the Thin Blue Line’s history and meaning.

I think I have the biggest dog in this fight as I created the most used thin blue line flag designs that have ever been used and have written extensively about how it was created. I would also like to recommend the article be partially locked to reduce vandalism by anti-police folks Mrkoww (talk) 13:54, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

@Mrkoww: Wikipedia:Be bold, You can just do the edits yourself --FMSky (talk) 05:03, 17 October 2024 (UTC)
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