'In God We Trust' Cop Car Bumper Stickers Draw Fire

Activists who want “In God We Trust” bumper stickers removed from Walton County Sheriff’s Office vehicles need to either get a court order or a new sheriff.

That’s Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr.’s stand after receiving a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation demanding the stickers’ removal from the agency’s cruisers.

“It is inappropriate for the sheriff’s office to display ‘In God We Trust’ on county property,” the nonprofit foundation wrote in a July 29 letter to Adkinson. “Statements about a god have no place on sheriff cars.”

Adkinson just doesn’t see it that way.

Upon receipt of the foundation’s letter, he fired back with a missive of his own.

“I respect and appreciate the religious convictions or lack thereof of all citizens,” his Aug. 4 response states. “I see absolutely no conflict in this matter. You are obviously unaware that ‘in God we trust’ is the state motto of the state of Florida, and has been since 1886. This was reaffirmed in 2006.”

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Adkinson goes on to point out that very same motto is the motto of the United States itself.

Similar letters were sent to six other law enforcement agencies around the country, the foundation announced in a media release. In that release, foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor, was quoted as saying putting such bumper stickers on police vehicles sends a message of exclusion to nearly a quarter of the U.S. population.

“Spending taxpayer time placing religious messages on patrol cars is beyond the scope of secular government,” Gaylor said. “Further, in a time when citizens nationwide are increasingly distrustful of police actions, it is a frightening and politically dubious to announce to citizens that law enforcement officers rely on the judgment of a deity rather than the judgment of the law.”

In his response, Adkinson said he was unwilling to compromise.

“If the Freedom From Religion Foundation wishes us to take them off our vehicles, I suggest that they get a Judge’s order or a new Sheriff.”

Other agencies called out for use of the bumper stickers include Florida’s Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bonifay Police Department. Departments in Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina and Missouri also received letters.

It is unclear if the foundation will pursue legal action.

This isn’t the first time in recent months the foundation has attempted to call a Florida sheriff for alleged violations of separation of church and state. The foundation requested earlier this year that Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd cease his practice of wearing his uniform while preaching from the pulpit.

Like Adkinson, Judd flatly refused the foundation’s request.

What are your thoughts on the issue? Share them by commenting below.

Photos courtesy of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office