A Florida sheriff declined to remove “in God we trust” decals from squad cars despite complaints from the atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation.
FFRF co-President Anne Laurie Gaylor claimed the decals are “beyond the scope of secular government” and a waste of taxpayer funding.
“Further, in a time when citizens nationwide are increasingly distrustful of law enforcement officers’ actions, it is frightening and politically dubious for the local police department to announce to citizens that officers rely on the judgment of a deity rather than on the judgment of the law,” she wrote.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey countered Gaylor’s claim and said he would not be taking the phrase off law enforcement vehicles.
”They have a better chance of me waking up thin tomorrow morning than they do of me taking that motto off our cars!” Ivey said in a Fox News interview.
Ivey said he believes America is at a “tipping point” and giving in to the FFRF would be ceding his values.
“I personally believe that our country is at a tipping point, and if we, as strong patriotic Americans, don’t stand for the principals of our great nation, we are going to lose the America we all know and love,” he explained.
The decals were a new addition that the department announced in October.
FFRF’s Florida Director David Williamson criticized the decision, saying, “Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve all citizens. Displaying a preference for religion so clearly right on county property is a betrayal of that oath.”
Ivey was unfazed by the criticism, saying, “I can assure you that the proud men and women of our agency are forever unwavering in our support of the constitution and the principles of our amazing country.”
