Danvers Pulls Thin Blue Line Decals From Fire Trucks

DANVERS, MA —Town Manager Steve Bartha is under fire after ordering the reoval of Thin Blue Line decals from the town's fire trucks.

The black-and-white American flag with a blue stripe through the middle is a symbol of support and solidarity for public safety workers and their families. But the symbol has also become politicized "that has the power to make marginalized members of our community feel unwelcome and unsafe," Bartha said in a statement.

"As local government officials and public servants, our responsibility is to work in support of all residents of and visitors to Danvers regardless of their belief systems or lived experiences," Bartha said. "When we as public servants, through speech, actions, or the symbols we display, have intentionally or unintentionally undermined the confidence of marginalized members of our community, we are obligated to act."

The decision drew immediate backlash from many Danvers residents, including Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Jonathan Mattarocchia.

"We never got a chance to vote on this. Nor did the residents of the town have a chance to express their opinion," Mattarocchia said. "The Town manager Steve Bartha has now made this about politics by taking a side and announcing his position. He acted on his own sole belief and stance instead of the well being of the residents of the Town of Danvers and his statement is laughable and a disgrace."

In a Facebook post, Danvers Firefighters Association President Brian Barry said the town had received one complaint about the logos. He noted that Acting Fire Chief Robert Amerault's decision to remove the logos himself "was well received" by union members.

"We have been displaying this for over two years and this is the first complaint. This is not, and never will be, political to us," Barry wrote. "We are simply continuing to show our support for our brothers and sisters in blue and letting them know we will always be there for them."

Bartha said he made the decision after consulting with Selectmen Chair Daniel C. Bennett and notifying the town's police and fire chiefs.

"This is not Ferguson and George Floyd was not killed in Danvers. Flying the flag only offends the vocal minority who know weak people and politicians are listening and afraid of their voices," one resident said in an email to Bartha that was also sent to Patch. "Be assured there are more people disappointed with your decision than pleased with it."

In his statement, Bartha praised the town's police and fire departments.

"I understand that this decision may not be universally supported, and that some may view the decision as lack of support for our public safety departments," Bartha said. "That could not be further from the truth. To the contrary, it is a decision intended to reaffirm our support and commitment to every single member of our community."

Dave Copeland covers Danvers and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).