But as a political totem it is undeniably powerful. A merger of the American flag with a symbol representing the police, the thin blue line flag has become a potent statement in its own right.

The Los Angeles Police Department is facing fierce criticism after it banned displaying the Thin Blue Line Flag over a complaint it symbolized "extremist" views. Founder of Blue Lives Matter NYC ...

To the editor: Those Los Angeles Police Department officers displaying “thin blue line” flags — whether well-meaningly or not — clearly have not seen the 1988 Errol Morris documentary that ...