Blue Line Flags Are Cheap, Cops Are Goddamn Expensive

Supporting law enforcement in the wake of a policeman’s brutal on-duty murder

Tony Russo
6 min readMay 2, 2021
Photo by Michael Förtsch on Unsplash

I’ve never been enthusiastic about living in Delmar, that’s not a secret, but I’m writing this with a heavy heart lightened only by a swelling pride in my town’s response to tragedy. As I write this there are literally about 1,000 people in the ballpark that abuts my backyard.

They’re holding a fundraising event for a dead policeman’s family. Music, concessions, a memorial softball tournament, and a 50/50 raffle. The roads are thick with cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles all flying the problematic Blue Line flag.

These are people who want with all their heart to help the officer’s family and show solidarity with the police. While I am not among them, I am overcome with a deep sadness at the loss and a simmering rage at the manner of death.

Corporal Keith Heacook was beaten to death answering a home invasion call. The man who killed him had been on something of a spree, beating an old…

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Tony Russo
Tony Russo

Written by Tony Russo

Pencil-sharpening enthusiast, journalist, author of “Dragged Into the Light” https://amzn.to/3bLQ0Wi

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