Deputies affix Thin Blue Line flag atop of Box Elder County peak


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WILLARD, Box Elder County — Four Box Elder County sheriff's deputies made their way to the top of a mountainous peak Thursday to hoist an American flag a little higher — and to stake their own Thin Blue Line flag in a gesture of gratitude.

The ascent to the top of Middle Peak, east of Willard, was "treacherous," said deputy Ralph Bennett, who organized the expedition.

"It’s steep," he said. "It’s a challenging hike for anybody, even if they’re in shape."

But Bennett believes the demanding trip to restore an iconic flagpole was well worth it. He and fellow corrections deputies Jason Tilby, Jason Jensen and Riley Riser added a rope to the pole, which had fallen into disrepair.

Out of necessity, the American flag atop the mountain had been flying for a few years on a lower pole a few feet away, which Bennett and other deputies wanted fixed, he said. Then the group had the idea to keep the smaller pole in use by affixing to it a Thin Blue Line flag, symbolic of law enforcement's relationship with the communities in Box Elder County.

"It’s kind of a thank you to the community that they can see," Bennett told the Deseret News."We wanted to do something to kind of let them know that we appreciate them."

In recent months, police-civilian tensions in the United States have been "really kind of hard to watch," but police in Box Elder County have felt support from local residents, Bennett said.

Deputies affix Thin Blue Line flag atop of Box Elder County peak

"We just wanted to pay back the people who have been so supportive," he said. "We appreciate the support of our communities."

As word spread that Bennett and his friends planned to use some of their time off from work to complete the project, others got excited about the new flag, he said. At least one person from every police agency in the county has now signed the flag, according to Bennett.

Some parks and recreation employees and representatives from the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge also joined in, as did a police officer from Tennessee who was in Utah for training.

"It just ballooned so big. A lot of people wanted to take part in that," Bennett said.

The deputy sees the flag not only as a gesture of gratitude, but also as a reminder of law enforcement's promise to Box Elder County.

"It’s kind of our symbol of saying, 'We’re here and we’re watching over you,'" Bennett said.

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