Police chief tells anti-religious group to "go fly a kite"

September 30, 2015

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Chief Adrian Garcia of the Childress Police Department received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation demanding that the department remove the words ‘In God We Trust’ from their patrol vehicles. This comes on the heels Lee County, VA Sheriff Gary Parsons addition of the national motto to their patrol units earlier in the month.

Lee County, Va., Sheriff Gary Parsons stands next to a patrol car that displays an "In God We Trust" decal on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Parsons said his office spent a total of $50 to have the decals added to about 25 vehicles. He said many people feel their belief system is being trampled and that adding the phrase is a way of pushing back. But a watchdog group says the decals amount to an illegal government endorsement of religion. (Rex Bailey/Lee County Sheriff's Office via AP) — Lee County, Va., Sheriff Gary Parsons stands next to a patrol car that displays an “In God We Trust” decal on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Parsons said his office spent a total of $50 to have the decals added to about 25 vehicles. He said many people feel their belief system is being trampled and that adding the phrase is a way of pushing back. But a watchdog group says the decals amount to an illegal government endorsement of religion. (Rex Bailey/Lee County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

Chief Garcia decided with a letter, which has since gone viral, in which he said, “After carefully reading your letter I must deny your request in the removal of our Nations motto from our patrol units, and ask that you and the Freedom From Religion Foundation go fly a kite.” The chief then posted the message to the department’s facebook page.

In response to the controversy, several departments and Sheriff’s offices from around the state have been sending photos of their units brandishing “In God We Trust” decals in support of Chief Garcia.