Confusion: The Thin Blue Line Decals

Sat, 20 May 2006 17:08:17 -0400 by Bull

Have you ever noticed those “Thin Blue Line” decals on car bumpers and alternative license plates? Usually these cars belong to an officer or a family member. Understand that I fully support Law Enforcement, (Heck, I damned near married a cop from Staunton, Virginia! (Hey, Karen!)), even when I’ve been caught in speed traps. After all, I was breaking the speed limit and therefore the Law. On these occassions I apologized to the officer for my errors, stayed polite, and then I paid the fines, kicked myself in the ass, and went on my way. To be totally honest though, I’ve also had the misfortune of meeting officers that were worse examples of human beings than the criminals they were supposed to be arresting. Fortunately for all of us those bad ones are rather a rare breed. Anyhoo…

I’ve studied symbology for years. Being a Pagan, it almost is a given that symbology is a huge part of your Life. Symbology is in everything from our churches, to our schools, to our Armed Forces, and to our Federal and Local Governments. Symbols really do mean things.

That’s where the confusion comes in…

Let’s take a quick look at that “Thin Blue Line” symbol. What we see is a BLUE line seperating two fields. Well, that works. The problem is that the BLUE line is seperating two BLACK fields. What difference does that make, you ask? Well, like I said before, symbols mean things. In this case the BLUE line symbolizes the police. In the most commonly accepted Heraldric terms BLUE stands for Truth and Loyalty. (Ok. No problem.) BLACK means Constancy or Grief. (I think “grief” is the most appropriate of the two terms here, don’t you?) Seems like no problem, right?

Supposedly the Police are there to “protect and serve”. Ostensibly to protect the Law-abiding citizens from the criminal element. So why is that “Thin Blue Line” seperating two BLACK fields? Now if that line were standing between a BLACK field and a WHITE (Meaning “Peace and Sincerity”) field, then I could understand it. Not this though… This seems to say that the police stand alone, surrounded by “grief” on all sides. No good guys, only bad guys. Where is the “protect and serve” if we are all “grief” to the police?

Of course, I may be full of crap and be looking at this all wrong. So if there are any officers out there reading this, please, tell me what that “Thin Blue Line” symbol means to you.

Bull, out.

Tags: 10 Comments

10 responses so far ↓

1 Christine May 24, 2006 at 1353

Did anyone respond to the Thin Blue Line thing? We’re thinking about doing a story on it.

-Christine
2 Bull May 25, 2006 at 0114

None on the blog, but I have had several emails. Seems I’m not the only one scratching his head over this one. (I’m glad, too! I thought I was going ove the edge. Seeing one of those decals just bugs the pee out of me!
3 Sam Jul 1, 2006 at 1818

its between 2 black fields because the black is in honor of those who have given there lives in the profession….
4 Bull Jul 2, 2006 at 0629

That makes no sense to me at all, Sam. I respect your opinion, and knowledge. However, if that is truly the reasoning for the color scheme, then someone seriously screwed the pooch during either the design or naming process.

Call it an Honor badge. Not a “Thin Blue Line”. That still appears to anyone paying attention that cops are stating that they alone are the lawful. Either you are a cop or you are against them.

There has to be a better way.
5 Dee Jul 19, 2006 at 0152

I respect your opinion on this one Bull, but the “Thin Blue Line” symbol is not 2 black fields, it’s one. The blue line represents those law enforcement officers here with us today and is placed atop a black background which represents the law enforcement officers who have lost their lives. It has nothing to do with cops stating they alone are the lawful. It’s a symbol for law enforcement to grieve their fallen brother and sister officers. Rest assured, law enforcement officers are out there to protect and serve. I hope this sheds a little light on your understanding of the “Thin Blue Line” symbol.
6 Bull Jul 19, 2006 at 0627

Sadly, it still looks for all the World like two black fields to me and every other person I’ve asked since Sam sent his explaination to me. Seriously, I’m NOT anti-cop. You guys do a service for all of us that we could not live without, for the most part. I still am forced by history to note the occassional corrupted cop. Thankfully they are few.

Still, IMO, there needs to be a re-design or a re-naming.
7 Tony Jul 19, 2006 at 1130

The symbol’s meaning has been interpreted several ways. For many, it is a rememberance to those who have fallen in service. The blue line (or blue wall) is representative of those who serve. My understanding is the the line is an infinite number of points (LEO’s) that stand between society and anarchy. If you look at the root of Police or “Policy” - you can correlate the underlying meanings back to Hammurabi’s code. Ok, I am getting a bit off on a tangent, but the general consencus is that without rules/ laws/ “policy” - there would be anarchy.

On a side note, while we are speaking of rememberance of fallen, the most common form of tribute to the recently fallen is a black band worn around one’s badge. You will occasionally see them on TV officers or firefighters. We all wore them after September 11th, until the flag went to full mast.

While I readily concede that there are bad eggs in this profession, the same holds true for any profession. Understand that this profession is readily scrutinized in all media. How many other workers must don bulletproof vests just to start a workday? We are held to a much higher starndard of conduct than most professions. A doctor can get a DUI and continue his career, If I get one mine is over. We hold one of the highest divorce rates, and suicide rates, of any profession. “show me a cop who hasn’t been divorced and I’ll bet he’s a rookie- or a rare breed”

I say all that to stress the importance of the brotherhood that so many hold contempt for. The blue line is often held in contempt. But until you put your life in another’s hands, you can’t fully appreciate the existance of fraternity.
8 Bull Jul 19, 2006 at 2013

FINALLY! A response from someone I know to be a Law Enforcement officer!

Tony wrote: “without rules/ laws/ “policy” - there would be anarchy.”

That is a fact we can ALL agree on, withthe exception of the unwashed, anarchist-wanna-be teens spray painting walls that is…

Also, I agree whole-heartedly about there being FEW, very few, bad apples in the barrel of Law Enforcement. Certainly the national news over the last few years should show us that. True, too, is the statement about divorces! I dated a cop who was married to a cop - AFTER her divorce. Our relationship bit the big one as well.

I’m hoping that my statements concerning the symbol in question has not been mis-interpereted as anti-law enforcement garbage. If it was, my Grandpa would come out of his grave - badge and all - to strangle me! No, it is simply to clear up some real confusion over what seemed to be an unfortunate choice of pattern.
9 Stafford Jul 13, 2008 at 1251

TO ME THE BLACK IS JUST A BACK GROUND, I HAVE THE TAG AND NUMEROUS STICKERS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT BACK GROUNDS. THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE LINE ITSELF NOT THE BACKGROUND. ALTHOUGH YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT I BELIEVE YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM A WRONG ANGLE.
10 Adam Jul 24, 2008 at 2011

The reason I proudly display my blue line stickers is to remind myself of the thin line you have to walk while in the public’s eye due to the scrutiny that we all receive wheter in uniform or out. This may not be the actual meaning or whatever else you want to call it, but it is the meaning for me.