Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Professor Pushes for College to Remove Thin Blue Line Flags, Local Police Leader Objects

The College of DuPage, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is being asked by some to remove thin blue line flags from campus, including possibly one that is a memorial to a fallen local police officer, Raymond Murrell.

by Staff
October 20, 2023
2 min to read


The College of DuPage, in  Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is being asked by some to remove thin blue line flags from campus, including possibly one that is a memorial to a fallen local police officer, Raymond Murrell.

Frank Giammarese, the director of public safety for the Bloomingdale Police Department, in a college board of trustees meeting said he learned that members of the public and a full-time criminal justice professor at the school voiced concerns during a tour. The professor he named says that the allegations by Giammarese about his wanting to remove the memorial are not true.

Ad Loading...

That same professor is reported to have submitted a letter to the board of trustees in a meeting that alleged the thin blue line symbol has been used by white supremacists, and in opposition to Black Lives Matter.

The flags and other artwork depicting the thin-blue line flags are on display at the school, which also houses the Homeland Security Education Center (HEC).

Members of the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, an agency that trains law enforcement and public safety officials, have displayed thin blue line flag material in office spaces and within a memorial for fallen police officers on the second floor of the HEC, reported The Courier.

At the Collee of DuPage’s September 21 board of trustees meeting, Giammarese said removal of the flag depictions and in particular from the memorial for the fallen officer would be a dishonor to police and Murrell’s service. The 27-year-old officer was killed in a car crash while responding to a retail theft call in January 2017.

If the school chooses to remove the flags, Giammarese says he will remove his agency’s support for the academy, not sending recruits to the 16-week training program.

Ad Loading...


“If the College of DuPage decides to take this police memorial down and this police flag down, I will take every resource out of the academy,” Giammarese said. “I will not allow another potential probationary police officer to be part of this academy. That’s how much that means to us.”

Topics:Patrol

More Patrol

Hands insert an Adept Armor protective plate into a camouflage tactical plate carrier, demonstrating how the armor plate fits inside the vest.
PatrolSeptember 17, 2026

Adept Armor Introduces Two New Rifle Plates

Adept Armor has launched two new Level IV ballistic plates, the Emperor and the Archon Mark 2, which brings Adept Armor’s new Quatroid ceramic to the high-threat, performance-value center of the range at 5.2 pounds.

Read More →
Open Benchmade folding knife with a bronze-colored blade, textured dark handle, and braided lanyard resting on weathered wooden boards.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamSeptember 17, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Benchmade Bailout

The Benchmade Bailout is a slim, lightweight carry knife with a deep-ride pocket clip and comes in a variety of blade steels and scales. Here is a detailed review of the Taiga Green Bailout, released earlier this year.

Read More →
Officer of the Month graphic honoring Deputy Lorne Juday of the Osceola County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office for July 2026, featuring a portrait of Juday in uniform.
PatrolSeptember 17, 2026

NLEOMF Announces July 2026 Officer of the Month

NLEOMF honored a Michigan deputy sheriff as the July 2026 Officer of the Month for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a Fourth of July crash.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Streamlight promotional graphic featuring the LiteBox 1 Million handheld light and Portable Scene Light III, highlighting products displayed for the 2026 National Safety Council Safety Congress & Expo in Indianapolis, Sept. 14–16.
PatrolSeptember 10, 2026

Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products at National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo 2026

Streamlight will showcase its latest lights, including the Portable Scene Light III and the LiteBox 1Million, at the 2026 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo.

Read More →
Graphic promoting the 2027 World Police & Fire Games in Perth, Australia, featuring an aerial city view and photos of international participants carrying Brazilian and Australian flags.
PatrolSeptember 10, 2026

The 2027 World Police & Fire Games Set for Perth, Australia

The 2027 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) will take place in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 21, 2027.

Read More →
New York City skyline at night with the Tribute in Light beams illuminating the sky in remembrance of September 11, with the 5.11 logo in the upper left.
PatrolSeptember 10, 2026

5.11 Partners with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to Support #ForThe343

5.11 has joined the nationwide movement honoring the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Team Wendy graphic announcing sponsorship of the Jorge Pastore Foundation, featuring a black-and-white photo of Austin Police Officer Jorge Pastore, whose end of watch was November 11, 2023.
PatrolAugust 27, 2026

Team Wendy Announces Title Sponsorship of the Jorge Pastore Foundation

Team Wendy’s 3-year partnership with the Jorge Pastore Foundation expands access to programs that strengthen those who serve.

Read More →
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund graphic for the 2026 9/11 commemoration ceremony beside a close-up of a police officer’s badge, with blurred emergency lights in the background.
PatrolAugust 27, 2026

National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Hosting 9/11 25th-Year Commemoration Ceremony

The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum is hosting a 9/11 25th Year Commemoration Ceremony on Sept. 11 at 4 p.m.

Read More →
Officer of the Month graphic for June 2026 honoring officers of the Chico, California, Police Department, featuring the department’s police badge and a rose emblem.
PatrolAugust 20, 2026

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Announces June 2026 Officers of the Month

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) named 15 officers of the Chico Police Department (California) as the Officers of the Month for June 2026 for their roles in responding to an active-shooter incident at a public library.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Three smartphone screens display the Team Wendy community app, featuring tactical gear content, upcoming events, news, surveys, and navigation tools for warranty, sizing, and user profiles.
PatrolAugust 13, 2026

Team Wendy App Creates New Digital Hub for Helmet Owners

The Team Wendy Community App provides one location for warranty registration, size-fit tools, product updates, and community connection. For helmet owners, the new app creates a simpler path to the information and tools that matter most.

Read More →