TERRELL, Texas — The Terrell Police Department and the Crandall Police Department are the latest law enforcement agencies in Kaufman County to add the motto “In God We Trust” to their police vehicles.
TERRELL, Texas — The Terrell Police Department and the Crandall Police Department are the latest law enforcement agencies in Kaufman County to add the motto “In God We Trust” to their police vehicles.
According to Terrell Police Department Captain A.D. Sansom, Chief Jody Lay suggested the addition of the motto to the department’s fleet which garnered support from the command staff.
“Following a movement of several other area agencies, the familiar black and white marked police Tahoes will now proudly display the motto of the United States of America, ‘In God We Trust.’” stated Sansom.
Crandall Police Department Chief Billy Kilgore also suggested the addition of the motto to his department’s fleet last month and gained approval from the Crandall City Council. The motto was placed first on the department’s two new SUVs which were already being outfitted with decals before being placed into service.
Recent placements of the motto on Forney Police Department, Forney Fire Department, and Precinct 2 Constable’s Office vehicles gained support on social media with few questioning the motto’s constitutionality on city- or county-owned vehicles and possible legal fees associated with defending the placement of the motto.
Last year, the Childress Police Department was challenged by the Freedom From Religion Foundation on their placement of the motto on their police department vehicles.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott defended the department’s usage of the motto in a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton who, in turn, stated, “A court is likely to conclude that a law enforcement department’s display of the national motto ‘In God We Trust,’ on its patrol vehicles is permissible under the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution.”