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Bergen County administrator says county followed state flag protocol after recent deaths
Summary
County Administrator Tom Dutch said Bergen County followed the State of New Jersey's daily flag-status guidance and that county flags remained at full staff when the state did not order them lowered; he urged readers to direct questions about state orders to the governor's office.
County Administrator Tom Dutch told the Board of Commissioners and members of the public that Bergen County followed the State of New Jersey's official flag-status guidance after recent high-profile deaths and that the county did not independently issue orders to lower flags.
"Bergen County follows the state of New Jersey's official flag protocol," Dutch said from the podium. He explained that the Secretary of State issues a daily flag-status notification that is posted publicly and emailed to subscribers; a county public-works employee receives the email and notifies buildings-and-grounds staff when a change is ordered.
Dutch cited the example of Sept. 11, when the state ordered flags to be at half staff, and said that between Sept. 12 and Sept. 14 the state website indicated "full staff," so county flags remained at full staff. "The assertion that not lowering flags on the twelfth was a calculated political statement is categorically untrue," Dutch said. He said the county checked with other municipalities, both Democratic- and Republican-led, and found the same practice in place.
Dutch said county Executive James Tedesco's office has consistently followed state guidance on flag status throughout his tenure. Dutch also said the county holds annual flag-retirement ceremonies to honor the flag and veterans. He directed members of the public who want to know why the state did not issue a lowering order to contact the office of Gov. Phil Murphy.
Dutch framed the remarks as a clarification of county practice and emphasized that the county mirrors state directives on flag status rather than issuing independent political statements.
