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ATLANTA (AP) — Spurred by confrontations between police and the public, some sheriff's departments in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas have affixed their vehicles with decals that say "In God We Trust."
The phrase, which is also on U.S. currency, has been the national motto since 1956.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent out more than two dozen letters last week to law enforcement agencies asking them to remove the words. The foundation's leader, Annie Laurie Gaylor, says the words "In God We Trust" on law enforcement vehicles make some citizens uncomfortable.
But Gaylor concedes there's not much that can be done legally. She says, "It's really hard to sue over this because it's our national motto."
Participating law enforcement agencies insist that the decals don't infringe on anyone's rights, especially taxpayers. Many of the officers paid for the decals themselves or the sheriffs picked up the tab.
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