Given Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s controversial history, it should come as no surprise that the Maryland Democrat just took a public stand against police.
What was somewhat surprising was the strong repudiation from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan over that stance.
The county executive banned a police station from displaying a “thin blue line” flag that was a gift from a local woodworker, claiming the display meant to show support for law enforcement is “divisive,” Fox 45 Baltimore reported.
The flag was gifted in recognition of National First Responders Day.
“The flag provides a symbol of support to some but it is a symbol of dismissiveness to others,” Elrich informed the police station in a note. “Because it is divisive, the flag will not be posted at the 5th District nor in any public space within the Police Department.”
Progressive Democrats sees the “thin blue line” flag as a counter to the violent Black Lives Matter movement, essentially stating that “blue lives matter.”
In a statement provided to BizPac Review from the Gov. Hogan’s office, the governor called on Elrich to “immediately reverse this terrible decision and to apologize to the police and the citizens of Montgomery County.”
“I’m offended and disgusted that County Executive Marc Elrich has arbitrarily prohibited Montgomery County Police officers from displaying a ‘thin blue line’ American flag that was made for them by a father and his young son in honor of National First Responders Day,” Hogan said in the release.
The same flag currently hangs in the Governor’s Mansion.
“I have attended the funerals of fallen law enforcement officers across our state, and I take time to thank them every day for their dedicated service and sacrifice,” Hogan continued. “We proudly hang this very same American flag in Government House in Annapolis in their honor. To outlaw these American flags from being hung in county buildings by law enforcement officers is outrageous and unconscionable.”
The Montgomery County Police posted on their official Twitter page a photo of local resident James Shelton and his young son presenting the artwork to three uniformed officers.
“Thank you to resident James Shelton, who presented Montgomery County 5th District officers with a wooden American Flag that he had made in recognition of National First Responders Day. The flag will be displayed in the 5th District Station,” they posted.
Thank you to resident James Shelton, who presented Montgomery County 5th District officers with a wooden American Flag that he had made in recognition of National First Responders Day. The flag will be displayed in the 5th District Station. pic.twitter.com/kbAI32xHkY
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) October 30, 2019
The radical left-elected official tried to hide behind “the concerns of the community” in justifying his decision.
“Under my administration, we are committed to improving police relations with the community and will immediately address any action that stands against our mission,” Elrich concluded in the note.
The Montgomery County Police shared Elrich’s note online, which speaks volumes on the state of the relationship between the county executive and law enforcement.
“Under my administration, we are committed to improving police relations with the community and will immediately address any action that stands against our mission.”
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) November 2, 2019
Under Democrat control, Montgomery County is a sanctuary county that looks to protect illegal immigrants, and earlier this year Elrich banned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from accessing secure portions of the county jail.
This being the same Montgomery County that had nine illegal immigrants charged with rape or sex abuse of a minor between July 25 and mid-September, according to ABC7 News.
Elrich quietly reversed his ICE ban policy on Saturday — with stipulations.
Correctional officers have been instructed to grant ICE clearance to “identified areas” of the jail to “ensure that transfers are conducted in a safe environment,” ABC7 reported. The decision mandates that ICE submit an immigration detainer and arrive at the jail prior to the defendant’s scheduled release time.
Things are so bad in the Maryland county that Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli challenged Elrich to a public debate.
“I’ll defend children and crime victims, Elrich can defend rapists and murders who shouldn’t even be in this country,” Cuccinelli tweeted in September.
(3/3) No moderator, only a timekeeper w/a hard stop (i.e., mic goes off at end of time). I’ll defend children and crime victims, Elrich can defend rapists and murders who shouldn’t even be in this country. What do you say, Mr. Chairman?
— USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli (@USCISCuccinelli) September 6, 2019
Elrich’s response to the controversy was to lash out at President Donald Trump and his administration, to include Cuccinelli, as well as conservative media, speaking of them in the same breath as “neo-Nazi sympathizers.”
“These individuals and organizations should be ashamed for spreading false information seeking to establish a baseless, illogical and xenophobic connection between a person’s failure to obtain legal status and their propensity to commit a sex crime,” Elrich said at the time.
Social media users wasted no time in tearing into the Democrat for refusing to stand with police over the flag.
Here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:
Divisive to whom, criminals, illegal immigrants, and corrupt politicians
— Steve (@Steve14147) November 2, 2019
The County Executive is an elected position. Hope the voters remember this.
— MS#991 (@msnymd) November 2, 2019
Coward’s response. The blue represents the men and women of all walks of life who pin a badge on and report to serve everyday. Not all come back home. Take a stand and be an example to that little boy who gets it.
— Charles Cowles (@mdasandman) November 2, 2019
Ridiculous! Support for the Thin Blue Line is support for our police! It is not against anyone!! This is SHAMEFUL pic.twitter.com/g1KjejOQQT
— Martha Shields (@martishields) November 2, 2019
Really?!?! You’ve lost your minds, your character, and your integrity. Anybody who doesn’t like it here has a whole globe of places to choose to go to. Pick one.
— Girl With a Dog (@doodlemom1031) November 2, 2019
Just squash the morale of your finest. Unbelievable
— Ron Dooley (@DaBangStick) November 3, 2019
Hang it up anyways. Marc Elrich is a spineless coward, and should be stripped of his position! That flag may not mean anything to him, but to his officers it represents the thin blue line that stands between order and chaos.
— Brandt Hagemeister (@Redneck_Fan) November 2, 2019
Wow, gutless move. Way to support your officers by basically suggesting that supporting them is a crime.
— Clifford James (@cliffordhjames) November 2, 2019
This is a disgrace on the part of @Marc_Elrich. It’s a shame the great officers of @mcpnews have to serve under such a pathetic man.
— Christopher Shea (@CKeefeShea) November 3, 2019
And a coward. Giving in those those who hate this symbol of all those who sacrificed their lives and blood, to GET us the freedom for them to whine, is not the way to show support for your own men OR the community. Man up! At Marc Elrich.
— Vinny Setala (@VinSetala) November 2, 2019
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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