"Where is it written under what directive or procedure?" "But here's a kid that just wants to support law enforcement and now that's been taken away without a written reason," said Kim. The local police services do not recognize the thin blue line symbol on their uniform. The 'Thin Blue Line' is not a symbol the RCMP can endorse for official use," said Robin Percival from RCMP media relations. "The RCMP has established symbols that are already approved for use and are widely recognized and honoured by our colleagues and the public. In October 2020, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a directive to all officers to eliminate wearing of the thin blue line patch. But today they did not want to discuss the reason for it," she added. "They just said the flag is not permitted on school property and we'd like to fight for the inclusion of the blue line flag." "'Opposition to authority' is what is written on the suspension letter. "They're saying that it's divisive and polarizing," Kim said. They said during the meeting the superintendent did not want to discuss the suspension or the reason behind it. "We just don't understand why he was suspended," she said.īoth Carson and his mom had a resolution meeting on Sunday with the Simcoe County District School Board, including BDHS principal David Brooks and superintendent Dean Maltby, regarding the suspension. On Wednesday afternoon, Kim says she received a phone call from the school informing her that her son was being suspended for three days - Thursday, Friday and Monday - for "opposition of authority." It wasn't until last Wednesday when he says the principal saw the flag on his truck and told him to remove it, which Young refused to do. The force that safeguards society against irrationality."Ĭarson says he followed up with the principal numerous times to see if there was any response to his letter, but never heard back. "Police are the force that stand between law and order, and chaos. "Police and members of the law enforcement community have received a tremendous amount of hate during these pressing times of COVID-19 and BLM movements, but they are the ones protecting us when we need it the most," he wrote. "The flag shows support for these people in my life, as well as the other law enforcement officers who are in the 'line' of duty, and who 'walk the line' every day," he wrote in the letter. "They serve and protect not only our community but our country's safety and freedom."Ĭarson also participates in the Big Brothers and Sisters charity bowling event with SSP every year. In his letter, Carson explains that the symbol is meaningful to him and his family who work in law enforcement.Ĭarson's father is a civilian volunteer member of the South Simcoe Police Services (SSP)'s auxiliary unit as is his sister. His aunt works at the Ontario Provincial Police and his grandfather was also a 31-year-year veteran officer with Toronto Police Services. "The principal forwarded it on to the superintendent who never replied or responded to the email," explained Kim. "He has a clean school record, he's a great student, he volunteers his time, he helps coaches other teams, he is really well-liked in the school," said Young's mother, Kim, who is a Barrie police officer and has even been a guest at the school to teach students about forensics.Īfter the initial complaint in September, the teen was asked to write a letter to the principal to explain his reasoning for flying the flag, which was then forwarded to the superintendent. So he was shocked when, at the end of September, he claims the principal told him he had to take the flag down after receiving a complaint letter about it from someone at Nantyr Shores Secondary School in Innisfil during a school football game. The Grade 12 student says he has never been in trouble at school or suspended before. ![]() ![]() He has had the flag flying on his truck since he obtained his G2 driver's licence and truck in June 2021. Critics also argue the flag puts out an "us-versus-them" divisive mentality.īut he says the reason for flying the flag has nothing to do with politics, and more a show of support for his family, who all work in policing. The symbol has become controversial over the past few years, more so in the United States, in light of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and talks of defunding police and redirecting funding to social services. The thin blue line symbol is a black and white Canadian flag with a solid blue line running through it, symbolizing the line officers walk daily between life and death. Bradford District High School (BDHS) student Carson Young says he was suspended from school last week after refusing to take down a thin blue line flag from his truck.
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