By Jamila Young
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Connecticut.
WETHERSFIELD, Connecticut – The City Council has postponed a discussion on changing the city’s flag policy after residents criticized officials for not flying the “thin blue line” flag following the death of a state police trooper.
Oakland County Sheriff’s officers found and rescued the 14-year-old after he wandered away from a group on a camping trip
The revisions come after more than a year of studies and discussions with law enforcement agencies across the country, support groups and mental health experts.
“The real intention is to stimulate interest in police work among young people between the ages of 18 and 21 and to keep them in the profession.”
The judge ruled that the actions of Taylor’s boyfriend, who fired at police the night of the raid, were the legal cause of her death, not an unjustified arrest warrant.
After Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Southington on May 30, the City Council decided in June by a 5-3 vote with one abstention not to fly the flag because some Democrats viewed the flag as divisive and racist. That decision led to death threats against City Council members and their families via text messages and emails, City Manager Frederick Presley said.
The current policy, adopted in February, requires 30 days’ written notice to fly a commemorative or organizational flag on a city-owned flagpole. The latest change would return the policy to one the city adopted in December 2022 that only allows the flying of the U.S., Connecticut, municipal and prisoner of war/military flags.
However, the Council decided on Monday by 6 votes to 3 to postpone the vote on the proposed measure indefinitely.
“We need a little more time,” said Deputy Mayor Matthew Forrest after Councilman Rich Bailey asked why the discussion would be postponed. “When the agenda was announced, we heard from many people who expressed a desire for more conversation, and we are still discussing it. We just need more time.”
City Council member Shelley Carbone expressed her disappointment that the item was removed from the agenda and hoped that the need for time was the real reason for the adjournment.
“We’re talking about respect and trust, and I really want to trust that this is because you really need more time and really think about it carefully, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with,” she said.
Although the item was postponed, this did not prevent citizens from expressing their opinions.
Shannan Roach told the City Council that the city has become a circus following its decision not to fly the Thin Blue Line flag, adding that the City Council should get a better perspective on the issues that affect everyone.
He said he talks to his children about difficult conversations all the time. “As a community, we can’t do that, but we expect our kids to do it in school,” he said.
When it comes to flags and representation in the city, Roach said, “people want to be heard,” and the city council should listen to citizens.
“We’re never going to get anywhere in our community if we only appeal to people on one side,” he said. “Talk to people, understand their perspectives, understand where they’re coming from, understand their values.”
Robin Bourassa, who supports keeping the flag policy, said the public had a right to know why the item was removed from the agenda and that the decision to do so had “caused incredible uproar”.
“This is clearly a hot topic. It wasn’t enough that we were on the national news, it wasn’t enough that we were on the local news. It wasn’t enough on social media,” Bourassa said. “I hope you will do the right thing in the future and put it on the agenda.”
Christine Kelly said responsibility for this policy should be left to a committee rather than the City Council, which should focus more on other issues such as taxes, public safety and roads.
“I just think it was fine the way it was. People can do what they want in their homes, allow different groups to have their events in our community center, and welcome everyone and each other,” she said. “I don’t understand why we keep coming back to this issue when we have so much going on and things to get done.”
City Council member Miki Duric said the council intends to vote on the revised flag policy at its next meeting in early September.
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