Council members in Wethersfield, Connecticut voted against flying a “Thin Blue Line” police flag in honor of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, who was killed last week in a hit and run, opting instead to hoist a gay pride flag at half staff.
Pelletier was conducting a routine traffic stop in Southington, Connecticut last Thursday, when he was hit outside of his cruiser by Alex Oyola-Sanchez, a Puerto Rican native who had already been convicted of third-degree murder, attempted homicide and other felonies.
Oyola-Sanchez faces multiple charges, including “second-degree manslaughter, operating under the influence of alcohol/drugs and failure to move over.”
Pelletier, who leaves behind a wife and two young boys, was laid to rest on Wednesday.
During a meeting Monday night, a Wethersfield councilman requested that the Thin Blue Line police flag be raised during his funeral services.
“I think it’s the least we can do,” said Rich Bailey, Wethersfield councilman.
But the town council shot it down in a vote of 5 to 3.
Wethersfield’s Eyewitness News asked councilman Miki Duric why the police flag was voted down.
Duric claimed he voted no because it would’ve violated the town’s flag policy, which stipulates that all flag requests must be made at least 30 days in advance.
According to Eyewitness News, “people in town were hoping council would make an exception after the horrific tragedy.”
Many residents were reportedly outraged by the decision.
“It’s a tragic moment and they’re using it to gain political points. I don’t care which flag it was. Any flag brought up last night to be flown I would say no because it violated the policy,” Duric told Eyewitness News.
A one on one with Wethersfield Mayor Ken Lesser brought out what some suspect was the real reason the Thin Blue Line flag was rejected.
“It has now been used by white supremacist groups and other far right types of groups. Even many police departments around the country and in the state of Connecticut say we don’t authorize or use that flag,” Lesser said.
On Wednesday, the town made a point of flying the LGBTQ+ pride flag at half-staff.
During a pride event that included Wethersfield city council members and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D), an official stated that the pride flag was hanging at half-staff in honor of Pelletier’s passing.
The request to fly the pride flag was made more than 30 days in advance, officials said.
Councilwoman Emily Zambrello (D), a policy analyst for Connecticut House Democrats, told WTNH during the pride event that it was not “appropriate” to fly the Thin Blue Line Police flag because it “represents racism and antagonism to many, many people.”
UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE
Democrats in CT voted against flying the American blue line flag to honor fallen officer Aaron Pelletier who was kiIIed in the line of duty.
Instead they flew the pride flag at half staff to honor him. The pride flag. I have no words. This is disgraceful.… https://t.co/J0jLfj7j6l pic.twitter.com/7qJQ9oZqSA
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 6, 2024
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