A retired police officer says he was asked to leave a Hudson Valley campground after refusing to take down his 'thin blue line' American flag.

Retired Boynton Beach Police Officer Eric Reynolds started recording Tuesday when he was confronted by campground staff in Accord for his choice of American flag.

"I thought he was messing with me," says Reynolds.

Reynolds was shot in the line of duty in 2013 and awarded for exemplary service.

The 51-year-old suffers from PTSD and retired last year as a result.

He now travels the country with his family in their camper and says Thousand Trails Rondout Valley Campground is the first place to take issue with his thin blue line flag.

"I go from zero to red and that's what PTSD does. That's why I got out of police work. You can tell I'm getting all worked up," he says.

Reynolds says he was told to remove the flag or leave.

He eventually complied and took it down.

News 12 went to the campground on Monday and saw many flags - even another thin blue line flag inside the windshield of another RV.

The campground's website lists what type of flags are permitted but Reynolds says the rules aren't clear.

News 12 reached out to the campground for comment and it responded, “We have a flag policy across all campgrounds in our network that has been in effect since 2018. The policy allows a limited variety of flags to be displayed on site and is intended to help ensure a welcoming atmosphere for guests of the campgrounds.” 

Reynolds says he is going to take the experience and turn it around to make something positive out of it.

He says he's gotten a lot of support since the encounter and isn't sure if he will camp there again.