The Thin Blue Line (emblem)
"The Thin Blue Line is a symbol used by law enforcement in the United States and Canada to commemorate fallen officers.
Each stripe on the emblem represents certain respective figures: the blue center line represents law enforcement, the top black stripe represents the public whilst the bottom represents the criminals."
Controversy:
"The display of the emblem has allegedly been used to gain favorable treatment from officers in order to get immunity from traffic tickets (also known as "professional courtesy").[2] Even serious offences such as drunk driving are subject to professional courtesy "discretion", and federal law assists in the process by exempting police officers and firefighters from a federal law that requires truckers to be blood-tested after an accident.[3]
Police have attempted to prevent non-police from using such emblems by supporting laws that stop anyone but law enforcement officers from displaying such stickers, but these laws have been struck down."
Variations:
"After the popularity of the Thin Blue Line emblem for law enforcement came a number of other "thin lines".
Thin Orange Line – Search and Rescue Personnel and EMS
Thin Red Line Firefighters
Thin Silver Line – Corrections officers
Thin Yellow Line – Security Officers, Loss Prevention Officers
Thin Green Line – Special agent General Agents, especially Border Patrol Agents, and park rangers.
Thin NWU Line – United States Navy
Thin ACU Line – United States Army
Thin Tiger Stripe Line – Air Force
Thin White Line – Emergency medical services. The thin white line differs from other thin lines in that the background is blue instead of black, with a white line crossing horizontally through the middle. EMS also still uses the "Thin Orange Line" which is primarily used by Search and Rescue.
Thin Blue Line with Lightning Bolt – S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons And Tactics)"