Q&A on the News

Q: How can Bartow County sheriff’s cars have bumper stickers with “In God We Trust” on them? Where is the separation of church and state? I find that very offensive.

—Valerie Baugh, Atlanta

A: The Bartow County Sheriff's Office was one of several sheriff departments across the state that added "In God We Trust" stickers to their vehicles last year.

Others included Berrien, Burke, Coweta, Douglas, Gilmer, Haralson, Paulding, Polk and Walton counties, the AJC reported in September.

Polk County first put the stickers on its cars in 2009.

“I’m not pushing my religion on anybody,” Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats told the AJC last year. “I’m just putting our country’s motto on my car.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent letters to law enforcement agencies in the fall asking them to remove the stickers.

Terry Norris, the executive director of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, said the decision to put the stickers on department vehicles is up to individual sheriffs.

“For the ones who have done it, the support has outpaced the opposition,” Norris told Q&A on the News.

“In God We Trust” is the United States’ official motto. It was first placed on U.S. coins in 1864 and has been on paper currency since 1957, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The stickers have been placed on law enforcement and firefighting vehicles in several states, including Texas, Florida, Virginia, Illinois and North Carolina, among others, the past several years.

“This is taking off in many places throughout the country,” Norris said.