Sheriff Stands With Pro-Police Flag After Livermore Brouhaha

LIVERMORE, CA — Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern has espoused his support for the pro-police "thin blue line" flag that spurred a recent hubbub in Livermore and rally Wednesday.

Livermore's top brass has reaffirmed its support for law enforcement. Mayor Bob Woerner has apologized for any confusion that resulted after the city's newly minted Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee — comprised of Woerner, Vice Mayor Trish Munro and 50 residents — discussed the symbolism of "thin blue line" flags among others at a recent meeting of the subcommittee's working group on culture, which was formed in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Members of the culture group have been tasked with the project of "look[ing] at the entirety of our city ... the community equivalent of an individual looking in the mirror," Woerner and Munro wrote in a letter to the community. The letter came after Law Enforcement Today published an editorial Saturday condemning notes from a meeting last month, writing "yet another 'woke' city ... is jumping on the 'systemic racism' bandwagon."

The subcommittee's working group on culture seeks to "identify symbols, artwork, objects, artifacts, etc. in Livermore that represent and signify systemic racism ... [and] equity and inclusion" on public and private property, according to the meeting notes. Members identified "thin blue line" flags, Confederate flags and "inclusive signs" among those that might be inventoried as working group members seek to take stock of the city's culture.

Woerner and Munro were quick to clarify the meeting notes, saying they were a brief summary taken out of context and affirming that everyone has a right to practice free speech by hanging a sign or flag on their property. The working group issued an addendum to the meeting notes on the same day that the Law Enforcement Today piece was published, clarifying that Black Lives Matter and Coexist symbols were also among those worth exploring as the working group seeks to understand what such symbols mean to people.

"The overall project idea was meant to canvass the range of symbols of Livermore that not only reflect systemic racism but also symbols that signify equity and inclusion, and symbols of Livermore's culture and heritage to better understand how different cultures are represented in the community," the group wrote. "While this was stated in the notes, it could have been more clearly delineated."

Still, the incident spurred the community to take to the streets Wednesday night to show their support for law enforcement and the "thin blue line" flag, KTVU reported.

Ahern was among the attendees of the Livermore rally. The event was a reminder that people appreciate "the fact that we put our lives on the line every day to serve and protect people we don't know," he told Patch.

Woerner told Patch that he believes the meeting notes summary was inaccurate. In a community letter shared Thursday night, Woerner said he regretted "all the trouble and angst" and apologized for any part he played in failing to prevent any confusion.

He clarified that the city council had not taken any action on the matter, as the meeting was meant to simply facilitate a conversation, and said the public will have the chance to share their thoughts and hear from their councilmembers at the next council meeting Jan. 11.

Woerner, an Air Force veteran, said he views the flag as a way to respect law enforcement, but "understand[s] that some may view it differently, and respect[s] their right to do so."

For those who feel that police have discriminated against them, "they're not actually feeling safe," Woerner told Patch. "To some extent ... they're feeling hopeless."

"The whole idea is to just listen to each other. I don't think, from what I've seen, that people are listening to what the other people are saying," he said.

In her own letter, Munro reaffirmed her support for public servants and police officers, who "deal with unpredictable situations that can lead to injury or death" and "bring truly bad actors to justice." Symbols have different meanings to different people and Munro said it's her job to understand all perspectives.

The Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee is a group comprised of people who come from different backgrounds and hold unique opinions, Munro told Patch. Its members are a microcosm of the city, she said, and include people of various races, ethnicities, religions and income levels, including recent transplants to Livermore and people who have family in the area going back generations.

The goal has been to take an honest look at the community and facilitate a conversation between both people on both sides of an issue, she said.

"So far, I'm not really hearing anybody willing to do that," Munro said.

It's important to respect that some see the "thin blue line" flag as a way of paying respect to law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to support the community, but also that others feel the flag is symbolic of the imposition of white supremacy and racist acts against perpetrated by some officers, against people of color, she said.

To the chagrin of many in law enforcement, some perceive the "thin blue line" flag is as a symbol of white supremacy, akin to the Confederate flag, as The Marshall Project reported.

It was flown alongside Confederate flags at the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott banned officers from wearing "thin blue line" face masks for fear that they would be seen as "divisive and disrespectful."An Oregon county official paid $100,000 to a black employee at a law enforcement agency who said she was harassed after complaining about the display of a "thin blue line" flag at work, The Marshall Project reported.

But many officers, like Sheriff Ahern, believe that people have given a "false definition" to the flag. He encourages the public to research what it means to those who seek to protect them.

"To call it offensive is kind of offensive," Ahern said.

The "thin blue line" terminology has been around for decades, though the animosity toward law enforcement has grown in recent years, Ahern said. The flag is a symbol of the few law enforcement officers — the "thin blue line" — that form a barrier between anarchy and a civilized society, he said.

Law enforcement departments are understaffed and underfunded, and the "thin blue line" flag offers a sense of camaraderie among those in a difficult profession. Most people have no idea what officers experience on a daily basis, he said.

To those who want to see a positive change in the sheriff's office, Ahern welcomes them to join his ranks. The sheriff's office is in need of recruits.

"You can be a part of that change or you can be part of the people who write emails," he said.