But at least one neighbor was offended when they saw the flag flying above the state patrol cruiser parked at the Silverdale, Washington, home of trooper James Manning and tipped off the local newspaper, the Kitsap Sun.

State Patrol troopers in Washington state are allowed to take their patrol cars home during their off-duty hours and the vehicles frequently are parked outdoors.

State Patrol supervisors found out about the matter when the newspaper filed a public records request seeking access to the trooper’s personnel file and agency regulations regarding the display of offensive symbols, specifically the Confederate flag.

WSP spokesman Kyle Moore said trooper Manning “inherited the flag from his grandfather and further claimed he was not aware of the implications of such a symbol,” the newspaper reported on Monday.

The trooper did not return calls from the newspaper for comment.

The State Patrol was not investigating the matter as misconduct because Manning took down the flag, replacing it with a U.S. flag, and no official complaint was lodged, the newspaper reported.

The issue was brought to the attention of the newspaper after the neighbor “was disturbed by the association of the publicly owned vehicle of a law enforcement officer parked under the flag.” That person asked not to be named, fearing retaliation.

“The Confederate flag is so inflammatory that simply flying it on private property or being photographed wearing Confederate flag [patches or clothing] has resulted in the firing of law enforcement officers from their jobs in other states,” the newspaper account said.

Photo credit: Tad Sooter/Kitsap Sun