Minn. City to Remove Thin Blue Line Decals from Police Cars

SARTELL, MN—The city of Sartell will remove Thin Blue Line flag decals from their police squad cars and remove a Thin Blue Line flag from its place at the Sartell Public Safety Facility.

The Sartell Police Department announced Tuesday it is working on a new decal design "to represent the reason we had the blue line flag on our squad to begin with — to remember the officers that have given their lives in the line of duty."

"This decision to remove was not an easy one. We had to think about the safety of officers, support staff, reserve officers and firefighters that work daily at the public safety facility, but most importantly our priority is you, the community that we need to provide assistance to in your time of need," Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes and the department said in their statement. "We want our community to feel safe to come to our building to report a crime, register for permits, get advice and guidance from a police officer or even use the Safe Room to escape an abuser they are fleeing, and this is the best course of action to keep this intact."

In a petition drafted in March, resident Hannah Koloski argued the symbol of the "thin blue line" flag has been co-opted by pro-policing groups like "blue lives matter" to mock calls for racial justice and police accountability.

They also argued in the petition the symbol the flag "directly isolates our community members of color and makes a mockery of the Black Lives Matter movement," even if this is not the intent of Sartell police.

Koloski's petition garnered about 600 signatures, and a counter petition to keep the flags on Sartell squad cars has amassed over 2,400.

Sartell is the only city in the St. Cloud area that has these symbols on their police vehicles.

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