Somerville Removes 'Thin Blue Line' Flag From Fire Truck

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city removed a "Thin Blue Line" flag from one of its fire trucks after it was brought to Mayor Joseph Curtatone's attention Sunday. A Twitter user shared a picture of the truck and tagged Curtatone, who issued the following statement:

"Flags are off the trucks. They were not authorized to be there. Looking into how they got there. Sincerely hope the people who did this did not realize how hurtful it would be to people in our community."

The photo has since been taken down.

Flags are off the trucks. They were not authorized to be there. Looking into how they got there. Sincerely hope the people who did this did not realize how hurtful it would be to people in our community. https://t.co/wzHF2e4Ad1

— Joseph A. Curtatone (@JoeCurtatone) August 2, 2020

The flag, which supporters have said is a tribute to police officers who have died in the line of duty, was also at the center of a recent controversy involving the Hingham Fire Department.

The Hingham Fire Fighters Local 2398 said the flag was flown in memory of late Weymouth police Sgt. Michael Chesna on the two-year anniversary of his line-of-duty shooting death July 15, and the union decided to keep the flag flying as a tribute to all local police and first responders.

The Hingham Board of Selectmen received a complaint that the flag could be considered a political statement in opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. The Board of Selectmen said it determined the flag should not be on the apparatus since only a select few flags are authorized to be flown on town property — citing the refusal to allow a Pride flag to be flown during Pride Month.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts Union has offered to give the Thin Blue Line flag to any fire department or union wanting to fly it before it is presented to the family of Chesna.