San Francisco police chief nixes officers' 'Thin Blue Line' coronavirus masks, reports say
San Francisco cops have been told not to wear "Thin Blue Line" flag coronavirus masks when they are on the job, according to reports.
The edict reportedly came down last Friday from SFPD Chief Bill Scott after officers generated controversy when they were seen wearing the masks at a May Day protest by homeless activists at an abandoned property.
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Thin Blue Line masks shall not be worn by our on-duty members," he wrote in an email to members of the department, Fox 2 San Francisco reported. The department did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.
The flag has become identified with the pro-police "Blue Lives Matter" movement, which in turn has been seen as a response to the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Scott wrote in the email that the "symbolism on some of our officers’ face masks may be perceived as divisive or disrespectful," Fox 2 reported.A row of cops line the house where two unhoused women are living, trying to stay safe during a global pandemic. #reclaimsf pic.twitter.com/HGk4Hcz4T7— Reclaim SF (@reclaim_sf) May 1, 2020
The chief also acknowledged the symbol dated back three decades and was adopted by the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial, calling it a "meaningful expression to honor fallen officers," the station added.
