Thin blue line flag not yet flying in Des Plaines
The thin blue line flag was not yet flying over Des Plaines city hall Tuesday, even after aldermen voted to allow it amid debate whether they should have a say in what flags go up in front of city buildings.
The flag, meant as a tribute to fallen law enforcement officers, was hung from the Civic Center plaza entryway between city hall and the police station last week in honor of five Dallas police officers killed July 7. Another flag was placed above the revolving door of the police station at the request of Police Chief Bill Kushner.
But the flag wasn't flown on one of the two city flagpoles, despite council members giving it unanimous approval at its meeting late Monday night. City officials did not say Tuesday why the flag was not flying over city hall as expected.
Rules approved July 5 by aldermen allow only the flags of the United States, state of Illinois, the city of Des Plaines, and the POW-MIA flag, to be flown over municipal sites. Any other flags require the council's approval.
The rules were proposed by Alderman Jim Brookman after the flying of the rainbow flag, a symbol of gay pride, at the city library flagpole in the wake of the June 12 mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando. Mayor Matt Bogusz gave library board President Greg Sarlo permission to fly the flag, but Brookman said aldermen should be involved in the decision-making process.
He said he probably would have voted to fly the rainbow flag, if asked.
The three aldermen who voted against the flag policy continued to criticize it Monday night, calling for the rules to be overturned, giving authority back to the mayor and city staff.
“We have a responsible mayor, whether you like him or not,” said Alderman Denise Rodd. “We have responsible, talented staff that can make wise decisions about appropriate flags that fly over city property. Putting a policy in place that brings these requests before city council not only delays a timely honor, as we've seen with our police department, but it also puts red tape in a place that used to be free.”
Brookman suggested amending the flag flying policy to allow the blue line flag or firefighter memorial flag to be flown after a death, without prior approval from the council. But it was tabled for a month, while city staff researches flag flying policies in other municipalities.