Police see red over 'thin blue line' rule

ST. PETERSBURG — The complaints keep rolling in, says Michael Krohn, executive director of the Pinellas County police union.

Police officers are angry, but not about salaries or being understaffed or the slow pace of contract negotiations.

No, they're mad about a Police Department memo forbidding them from putting plates or stickers on their department-issued vehicles, including police cruisers. They are particularly upset that dozens of them will have to remove special tags about "the thin blue line," a term meant to suggest that the police are all that separates civilized society from chaos.

The plate is simple: a horizontal black stripe, a blue stripe, then another black stripe. The black is for fallen officers, and the blue represents the bond among those still living, Krohn said.

"If an insignia builds morale within your agency and it's not offensive, let's change to allow it," Krohn said. "They just want to show camaraderie."

Krohn said he received several dozen complaints from St. Petersburg officers. He said he has not heard of any other local law enforcement agencies that ban "thin blue line" plates or insignia.

"I've received stronger complaints on this than anything else," Krohn said.

Department rules prohibit officers from affixing any unauthorized stickers or plates to their cruisers. But over the years, officers have done so without drawing much concern.

But on April 21, assistant police Chief Luke Williams issued a memo saying all unauthorized tags, decals and bumper stickers had to be immediately removed from police vehicles.

Williams said that only the tip line, a recruiting bumper sticker and a department-issued American flag are allowed on cruisers. No exceptions.

Police spokesman Bill Proffitt said Williams was merely reinforcing a policy.

"He started seeing bumper stickers and decals and license plates showing up on police cars, and that's not in conformity with our policy," Proffitt said. "That's inappropriate."

Krohn said it's time for the department to change.

"It's just like 'Semper Fi' with the Marines," he said. "You're not going to ask Marines to remove 'Semper Fi.' "

Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.