State trooper flies Confederate flag above his cruiser parked at home [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Southern Poverty Law Center

June 26, 2018
Bill Morlin

A Washington State Patrol trooper who flew a Confederate flag above his parked police cruiser claimed he was not aware of the “implications” of such a symbol.

But at least one neighbor was offended when they saw the flag flying above the state patrol cruiser parked at the Silverdale, Washington, home of trooper James Manning and tipped off the local newspaper, the Kitsap Sun.

State Patrol troopers in Washington state are allowed to take their patrol cars home during their off-duty hours and the vehicles frequently are parked outdoors.

State Patrol supervisors found out about the matter when the newspaper filed a public records request seeking access to the trooper’s personnel file and agency regulations regarding the display of offensive symbols, specifically the Confederate flag.

Read more: https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/06/26/state-trooper-flies-confederate-flag-above-his-cruiser-parked-home

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Washington trooper flies Confederate flag above patrol car in Silverdale
A Washington State Trooper who flew a Confederate flag above his driveway claimed he inherited the flag from his grandfather and didn't realize the "implications" of it, according to a state patrol spokesperson.
Author: Andrew Binion, Kitsap Sun
Published: 7:52 AM PDT June 25, 2018
Updated: 3:04 PM PDT June 25, 2018

SILVERDALE — A Washington State Patrol trooper who flew a Confederate flag at his Silverdale home with his official vehicle parked underneath in view of neighbors took the flag down after his supervisors were tipped off by a public records request from the Kitsap Sun.

Trooper James Manning claimed he inherited the flag from his grandfather and further claimed he was not aware of the "implications" of such a symbol, State Patrol spokesman Kyle Moore said.

Manning, who has been with the State Patrol since at least 2002, did not return a message left Wednesday with State Patrol dispatchers seeking comment.

The Confederate flag is so inflammatory that simply flying it on private property or being photographed wearing Confederate flag boxers has resulted in the firing of law enforcement officers from their jobs in other states. Moore said the State Patrol was not investigating the matter as misconduct because Manning took down the flag and no official complaint was lodged.

The flag could still affect Manning's ability to do his job, however. A local defense attorney said if Manning investigated a person of color, the attorney would try to use the photo at trial to impugn Manning’s credibility in front of jurors. The attorney cited two court cases — one from federal court in 2001 that found that it is reasonable to view the flag as a racist symbol.

The flag was brought to the attention of the Kitsap Sun after a person who lives near Manning was disturbed by the association of the publicly owned vehicle of a law enforcement officer parked under the flag. That person asked not to be named, saying they feared retaliation from the State Patrol.

More:
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/washington-trooper-flies-confederate-flag-above-patrol-car-in-silverdale/281-567268026