Senate Passes Schaffer Bill Protecting The Thin Blue Line Flag

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 202, sponsored by State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), legislation which prohibits restrictions on the display of the Thin Blue Line flag.

Senate Bill 202, also named The Chief Steven DiSario Act, gets its name from Chief DiSario, who was killed in the line of duty on May 12, 2017, while responding to a report of an armed suspect at a local nursing home facility.

“Chief DiSario's father, Tom, was given a Thin Blue Line flag at his son's funeral and displayed it on his property for four years to honor the heroic sacrifice his son made," Schaffer said. "After four years, the homeowner's associated forced him to take it down, claiming it was a 'political statement.'"

Senate Bill 202 prohibits park operators and landlords from including a restriction on the display of the Thin Blue Line flag in a rental agreement. The legislation also prohibits neighborhood, civic, homeowners, and condominium associations from banning the display of the Thin Blue Line flag.

"This is a grieving father who was just trying to honor and remember his son. It is a shame that he was forced to take it down and I was proud to sponsor legislation which protects its display," Schaffer added.

Senate Bill 202 now goes to the Ohio House for further consideration.

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