The Thin Blue Line (emblem)
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The Thin Blue Line is a symbol in use in the United States to show support for law enforcement officers.
The conceptual "Thin Blue Line" is derived from the historical Thin Red Line.
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[edit] Symbolism
The Blue represents the officer and the courage they find deep inside when faced with insurmountable odds.
The Black background was designed as a constant reminder of our fallen brother and sister officers.
The Line, the line is what police officers protect, the barrier between anomie and a civilized society, between order and chaos, between respect for decency and lawlessness.
Together they symbolize the camaraderie law enforcement officers all share, a brotherhood like no other.
[edit] Variations
After the popularity of the Thin Blue Line emblem for law enforcement came a number of other "thin lines".
- Thin Orange Line - Bounty Hunters
- Thin Red Line - Firefighters
- Thin Silver Line - Corrections officers
- Thin Yellow Line - Security Officers, Loss Prevention Professionals
- Thin Green Line - Federal, military, park rangers
- Thin White Line - Emergency medical services. The thin white line differs from other thin lines in that the background is blue instead of black, with a white line crossing horizontally through the middle.
- Thin Blue Line with Lightning Bolt - S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons And Tactics)
[edit] Controversy
While proponents of the symbol state that the identifier is merely for notifying other officers and/or civilians that the occupant of the vehicle may be law enforcement and possibly armed, opponents have claimed that display of Thin Blue Line emblems is used to gain favorable treatment from officers, and allege that non-law enforcement officials display the emblem not to show solidarity, but to get immunity from traffic tickets. This perception has led to the use of the emblem by people who are not connected with law enforcement for the purpose of gaining its perceived benefits. Some purveyors of "officially authorized" emblems have responded by altering its design and restricting their sale to people giving their department phone number and badge number. The design is now commonly acknowledged as part of the public domain, much like the many designs used in law enforcement such as the 5 point star used in several badge insignias. See Genericized trademark for explanation of Public Domain in this case.
