Thomas DiSario received a “Thin Blue Line” flag at the funeral of his son, Kirkersville Police Chief Steven Eric DiSario, who was fatally shot on the job. He flew it with pride until his homeowners’ association told him to stop.
“I received a letter from my HOA that stated the flag I displayed to honor my son, and the ultimate sacrifice that he made, was a political statement,” Thomas DiSario told lawmakers.
Ohio lawmakers want to protect Thomas DiSario’s right to fly his flag proudly. On May 13, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 202, which would prohibit landlords and mobile home park operators from banning the Thin Blue Line flag or emblem.
The bill, known as the “Chief Steven DiSario Act,” passed during National Police Week.
“This is a grieving father who was just trying to honor his son,” said Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster. “We should do everything in our power to console his family and allow them to honor those who protect and serve our communities.”
In May 2017, Thomas Hartless killed DiSario and two others, Hartless’ ex-girlfriend Marlina Medrano and nurse aide Cindy Krantz, at the Pine Kirk Care Center nursing home. Hartless then died by suicide. DiSario’s father received an American flag and Thin Blue Line flag at his son’s funeral.
The Thin Blue Line flag is a black-and-white version of the American flag with a blue line through the middle. Designed by 19-year-old Andrew Jacob in 2014, the flag symbolizes support for law enforcement. The thin blue line represents law enforcement serving as a line between order and chaos.
Current law protects the flying of several flags, including the American flag, the Ohio Burgee, the POW/MIA flag and military honor flags. Senate Bill 202 doesn’t protect flying other flags, such as ones supporting sports teams, firefighters or LGBTQ pride.
That prompted some criticism. “If government decides pro-law enforcement speech is worthy of statutory protection, then it cannot refuse to provide the same for speech with an opposing message in the same contexts,” said Gary Daniels, a lobbyist with the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.
Ohio lawmakers have tried to authorize use of the pro-police flag since at least 2017, but prior attempts have failed. In some instances, the flag has been used to demonstrate opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement or police reforms. At times, white supremacists have co-opted the symbol.
Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, said he supported allowing the flying of the Thin Blue Line flag but wishes the bill protected more flags. “I only wish this bill took a broad stance to fight for everyone’s First Amendment rights.”
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X.
Tell us what you think about this bill?
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Senate passes bill protecting ‘Thin Blue Line’ flag displays
Reporting by Jessie Balmert, Columbus Dispatch / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
