THIS WEEK WITH SHERIFF WAYNE IVEY: ‘In God We Trust’ Decals On BCSO Vehicles Catches National Attention

Latest Happenings around BCSO

THIS WEEK WITH SHERIFF WAYNE IVEY ON SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Giles Malone sits down with Sheriff Wayne Ivey to discuss Veteran’s Day and what’s happening around the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

“I personally believe our country is at a tipping point – and if strong, patriotic Americans don’t start standing up for the principles of this great country, we’re going to lose this great country.” – Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey appeared on Fox News’ ‘Fox & Friends’ last week and reiterated he’s not backing down after an atheist group urged him to remove ‘In God We Trust’ from new Brevard County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, an atheist group, has complained about new decals on incoming Brevard County Sheriff’s Office patrol cars that feature an American flag and the phrase “In God We Trust.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation argues the new “patriotic” decal, suggested by a local military veteran, is “frightening and politically dubious” in a letter to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, but Sheriff Wayne Ivey isn’t backing down.

Sheriff Ivey said that Brevard County auto dealership owner, businessman and philanthropist A.J. Hiers would be donating the funds to place the “In God We Trust” decals on the BCSO vehicles.

In a recent Facebook post, Sheriff Ivey said that as the agency replaces the BCSO patrol fleet, the new graphics will be added.

Sheriff Ivey said, “BCSO marked vehicles will show just how proud we are of our country and the principles our great nation was founded upon.

“While our vehicles will continue to include the iconic “Shuttle” design in honor of our Space Center history, they will now also include new graphics of an American Flag and the phrase “In God We Trust” that are both prominently displayed on each unit.

“To us, there is no greater honor than to live in the greatest country in the world and serve as a law enforcement officer in Brevard County where our citizens love us, trust us and protect us just as much as we love, trust and protect them,” said Sheriff Ivey.

WATCH: Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey told ‘Fox & Friends’ he’s not backing down after an atheist group urged him to remove ‘In God We Trust’ from BCSO vehicles. (Fox News video)

The suggestion for the patriotic theme was submitted from a citizen, a very proud veteran who made mention of the idea after sharing with Sheriff Ivey how proud he is of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and how passionately the agency supports veterans.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said the new decals were “inappropriate and exclusionary,” calling the national and Sunshine State motto “controversial” in a statement.

”They have a better chance of me waking up thin tomorrow morning than they do of me taking that motto off our cars!” Sheriff Ivey told Fox News.

“I personally believe that our country is at a tipping point, and if we, as strong patriotic Americans, don’t stand for the principals of our great nation, we are going to lose the America we all know and love!”

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