Last week, The Los Angeles Police Department banned the thin blue line flag from being displayed in public areas after the department received a complaint that it represented violent and extremist views. 

LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore defended his directives, including the removal of a display in one of the station’s lobbies, telling Fox News Digital,

Yesterday, we received a community complaint of the presence of a Blue Line Flag with the view that it symbolized support for violent extremist views, such as those represented by the Proud Boys and others. 

I directed to have the item taken down from the public lobby. The U.S. flag should be proudly displayed in our lobbies whenever possible. Memorials for our fallen are also authorized in all public spaces

It’s unfortunate that extremist groups have hijacked the use of the ‘Thin Blue Line flag’ to symbolize their undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views.

Moore expressed that he doesn’t personally agree that the thin blue line flag represented negative views, seeing it as a symbol of “the honor, valor, dedication, and sacrifice of law enforcement to protect our communities,” but that the station’s lobbies should be “free of political ideology.”

The Los Angeles Police Protective League has condemned the decision calling it, “political pandering”, in an email to its members on Thursday:

It is difficult to express the level of utter disgust and disappointment with Chief Moore’s politically pandering directive to remove Thin Blue Line flags and memorials for fallen officers from all public areas within our police stations. This direction came as a result of complaints from anti-police, criminal apologists, and activists who hold too much sway over our city leaders and, unfortunately, our Chief,

LAPPL posted on Twitter saying “We will display it proudly and will not let anyone distort the true meaning.”

We will display it proudly and will not let anyone distort the true meaning.

“…The blue line represents the men and women of law enforcement who stand in the gap between the lawless and the innocent.“@LAPDHQ pic.twitter.com/vNdfmHjwdQ

— Los Angeles Police Protective League (@LAPPL) January 11, 2023

Breitbart reported that Moore responded directly to LAPPL’s email, on Friday:

I understand the frustration some may feel on this issue with an accompanying sense of a lack of support of their dedication on my part,” he wrote. “I’m mindful of the Los Angeles Police Protective League’s (LAPPL) expressed disappointment in my directive. My commitment to you is unwavering as I strive each day to protect and serve you as well as the people of Los Angeles.

In September, Saugus High School in Los Angeles County discontinued its on-field tradition of carrying the flag before football games, stating it would no longer be permitted on campus because it is “divisive”. The tradition started after a 2019 shooting on the campus where five students were shot, two fatally, and police responded rushing to prevent more carnage. Like the LAPD, “community activists” were the source of pressure on school administrators to remove the symbol.