Yes, retired police officers can have a flag on their casket, but which flag depends on their background. The U.S. government furnishes a burial flag only to eligible military veterans, so a retired officer with no military service will not receive one from the VA. Most police departments, however, provide their own departmental flag for retirees who left in good standing, and any family is free to buy a U.S. flag and drape it over the casket themselves.
The Government U.S. Flag Goes to Military Veterans, Not Police Retirees
Federal law under 38 U.S.C. § 2301 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish a burial flag for deceased veterans who served in a war, served after January 31, 1955, completed at least one enlistment, or were discharged for a service-connected disability. Former members of the Selected Reserve who completed their initial obligation or died while serving also qualify. A person whose last discharge was under conditions less favorable than honorable is not eligible.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 38 USC 2301 Flags
Police service alone, no matter how long or distinguished, does not qualify someone for this benefit. A retired officer who also served in the military and meets the discharge criteria is eligible, but the flag honors the military service, not the law enforcement career.
The U.S. Flag Code, at 4 U.S.C. § 7, is a separate law about etiquette. It explains how to position a flag on a casket, with the blue union field at the head and over the left shoulder, but it does not restrict who may have a flag-draped casket or create any entitlement to receive one.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 4 USC 7 Position and Manner of Display Any family can purchase a U.S. flag and use it. The question is whether the government provides one at no cost, and that runs through the VA.
The Department Flag Most Retired Officers Receive
For the majority of retired officers, those without a military background, funeral flag honors come from the former agency rather than the federal government. Most police departments maintain their own flag and have established protocols for honoring deceased members, including retirees.
Eligibility criteria vary by department. Common requirements are retirement in good standing and a minimum period of service, often 20 years or more. Some departments use tiered honor systems in which the level of ceremony depends on how the officer died and their years of service. A department flag is typically folded and presented to the family as a direct symbol of the agency’s gratitude.
State flags may also appear during the ceremony if the department operates under a state agency, such as a state police or highway patrol organization. These represent the state’s recognition of the officer’s career rather than federal honors.
The scale of the service is usually smaller than what families see at a line-of-duty funeral. Many departments combine multiple ceremonial roles into one or two officers rather than deploying a full honor guard detail. The level of honors often depends on how recently the officer retired, the cause of death, and the size of the department. Families are typically consulted about which honors they want, and they can accept or decline any part of the ceremony.
Officers who retired from law enforcement and also served in the military can receive both: the VA-furnished burial flag through federal channels and departmental honors from their police agency, resulting in two separate flag tributes during the same service.
The Capitol-Flown Flag Is for Line-of-Duty Deaths Only
One additional federal flag honor exists for law enforcement, but it does not apply to retirees who die after their career ends. Under the Fallen Heroes Flag Act, the immediate family of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other public safety officer killed in the line of duty can receive a U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in the deceased’s honor. The family’s Congressional representative arranges the flag at no cost, and it comes with a certificate of sympathy signed by the Speaker of the House.3Congress.gov. H.R.723 – 114th Congress Fallen Heroes Flag Act
The benefit is tied to dying in the performance of duty, so it does not reach a retiree who dies years after leaving the department.
How to Request the Flag
The funeral home is the best starting point. Funeral directors regularly coordinate these requests and know the local process. From there, the family works with one or more of the following, depending on the officer’s background.
- The officer’s former department. Contact the department’s honor guard unit or administrative office as early as possible. They need lead time to assemble personnel and coordinate with the funeral home. Ask specifically what level of honors the retiree qualifies for, since this varies by policy.
- The VA, if the officer was also a military veteran. Complete VA Form 27-2008 (Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes) and submit it to a VA regional office, a funeral director, or a United States Post Office, though not every post office stocks burial flags, so calling ahead is wise. When burial takes place in a national, state, or military cemetery, the funeral home typically provides the flag directly. Families overseas can apply through U.S. embassies and consulates. Have the veteran’s discharge papers (DD Form 214) ready, since that document proves eligibility.4Veterans Affairs. Burial Flags To Honor Veterans And Reservists5VA. Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes
- The family’s Congressional representative, only for line-of-duty deaths. Requests for a Capitol-flown flag go through the representative’s office.3Congress.gov. H.R.723 – 114th Congress Fallen Heroes Flag Act
Timing matters more than families expect. Honor guard units are staffed by active officers who must arrange coverage for their regular duties, and the VA application moves fastest when the DD Form 214 is already on hand. If the discharge papers are lost, the National Personnel Records Center can provide a replacement, but that process takes weeks. Requesting it well before a death is foreseeable, such as during a terminal illness, saves the family significant stress later.
Once a VA burial flag is used to drape the casket, it must be delivered to the next of kin after the burial. If the next of kin does not claim it, a close friend or associate of the veteran may request it.6eCFR. 38 CFR 1.10 Eligibility for and Disposition of the United States Flag for Burial Purposes The VA cannot replace flags that are lost, destroyed, or stolen, though some veterans organizations may be able to help locate a replacement.4Veterans Affairs. Burial Flags To Honor Veterans And Reservists
What the Presentation Looks Like
When a burial flag is used, uniformed personnel, whether an honor guard, fellow officers, or a military detail, fold the flag into a tight triangular shape so that only the blue field remains visible. The folded flag is then presented to the next of kin with a brief statement acknowledging the deceased’s service. Military funerals use a standard phrase, and police departments generally follow a similar format, though the exact wording varies by agency. The presentation is typically the emotional centerpiece of the service, a physical transfer of the symbol the officer served under.
For a retired officer with both military and police service, the family may see this moment twice: once for the VA-furnished U.S. flag and once for the department flag. For a retiree with police service alone, the department flag is usually the one that appears, and it carries the same weight for the family and the agency.