The Fourth of July is a time of unity, national pride, and celebration of American freedom. But this year, the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office (SFSO) marred that tradition with a glaring and deeply inappropriate error: posting an image of the American flag upside down on official social media accounts.
Under the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S. Code § 8(a)), the upside-down flag is a distress signal, not a festive decoration. What was meant to be a message of celebration quickly became a symbol of confusion, embarrassment, and public outrage.
SF Sheriff PostsUpside Down Flag
The Timeline of Concern and Silence
- 3:49 PM, July 4 – SFSO posts an Independence Day graphic prominently displaying the flag upside down.
- 5:15 PM – The San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association (SFDSA) tags SFSO, alerting them to the error.
- 5:22 PM – SFDSA issues a public post calling the image unacceptable and demanding accountability.
- 6:26 PM – SFDSA asks whether the Sheriff authorized the post, reiterating that law enforcement must remain apolitical.
- 7:38 PM – SFDSA President sends a formal email to the Sheriff, requesting removal and corrective action.
Despite being notified multiple times, the post remained online well into July 6, continuing to visibly display the upside-down American flag across SFSO’s public X and Facebook accounts.
Accountability Evaded, Public Ignored
- July 5, 10:21 AM – The post is still up. SFDSA files a formal complaint with California POST.
- 11:45 AM – A new image is posted by SFSO, avoiding the flag controversy entirely.
- 11:55 AM – The Sheriff privately texts SFDSA, calling it a “mistake by the comms team” and referencing the new post.
- July 5–6 – The upside-down American flag remains publicly displayed on SFSO’s social platforms, garnering continued visibility and criticism.
- July 6, 11:27 PM – Only then is the original upside-down flag graphic quietly taken down.
July 7: Private Apology, Public Silence
At 3:49 PM on July 7, the Sheriff addressed the situation in a video—but only internally, to staff. He acknowledged the concern raised and reaffirmed that the department honors the flag. However, this message was not made public. The video does not appear on the SFSO’s public Vimeo page, and no statement was issued on the same social platforms where the mistake occurred.
Are there two versions of the Sheriff’s Office? One face shown to employees, and another presented to the public? If the department acknowledges mistakes privately but refuses to address them publicly, it suggests that the SFSO may be playing politics—presenting one version of events to employees and possibly another to the public.
Why It Matters
According to guidance from the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office and long-standing departmental policy, engaging in political messaging or conduct while on duty is prohibited. This raises an additional concern: if the delay in removing the upside-down flag post was intentional, could it represent a form of political messaging using official resources? If so, this would not only be inappropriate—it may be a violation of policy.
Was someone in the Sheriff’s Office playing politics? An upside-down American flag was posted for all to see on Independence Day. Whether the post was accidental or intentional, the delayed removal—left in place for days after the holiday—speaks volumes. This delay raises serious concerns about judgment, accountability, and whether the decision to leave the image up was calculated rather than careless.
This wasn’t just a simple error. It was a public misrepresentation of a powerful national symbol on one of our most meaningful holidays. When the issue was brought to light, the department failed to act promptly and later addressed it only behind closed doors.
If the Sheriff and his command staff recognize the mistake internally, they must also acknowledge it publicly. A silent correction is not accountability. The same social media platforms used to spread the error must be used to correct it. Anything less suggests a dual standard: one face for employees, another for the public.
The Public Deserves Better
The SFSO represents the people of San Francisco. Respecting national symbols and engaging with the public honestly is part of that duty. A formal apology on public platforms is not just appropriate—it is necessary.
We call on the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office to:
- Issue a public apology on X and Facebook
- Clarify how the mistake occurred
- Commit to training staff on flag protocol and public communication standards
Transparency and accountability must be more than internal talking points. They must be demonstrated values. And that starts with owning mistakes publicly.