Sheriff in San Antonio suburb sticks 'In God We Trust' decals on patrol vehicles 'If you've got a problem with it, then don't read it,' the Kendall County Sheriff said.

Kendall County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles now bear the phrase "In God We Trust," months after Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled that law enforcement agencies could display the model on police cars. Kendall County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles now bear the phrase "In God We Trust," months after Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled that law enforcement agencies could display the model on police cars. Photo: Kendall County Sheriff's Office Photo: Kendall County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Sheriff in San Antonio suburb sticks 'In God We Trust' decals on patrol vehicles 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Patrol vehicles for the Kendall County Sheriff's Department now bear the phrase "In God We Trust," months after the state attorney general ruled that law enforcement agencies could display the motto on police cars.

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That ruling came in October after the Freedom from Religion Foundation blasted the Childress Police Department, west of Wichita Falls, for plastering "In God We Trust" decals on their vehicles.

The foundation, which promotes separation of church and state, perceived the display as a blatant endorsement of one religious faith, while Paxton's opinion said that the police department would likely win in a potential court challenge.

Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier told mySA.com that he was unaware of that particular controversy and the subsequent Paxton ruling.

"I thought it would be kinda neat to put the national motto on our cars," said Auxier.

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Auxier told mySA.com he first had the idea to display the motto on patrol vehicles in late 2015, sometime after the ruling.

The sheriff said he asked Kendall County Sheriff's Office personnel whether they had problems with possibly displaying the phrase.

"The response was overwhelmingly 'no,'" Auxier said. "There were no issues with it."

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Vehicles began displaying the motto last week, Auxier said. The sheriff's office used funds from drug seizures, not strictly budgetary monies, to pay for the decals.

The sheriff, who is running for re-election unopposed, dismissed the notion that concerns could be raised over the motto's religious connotations.

"I'm saying it's our national motto and there's no reason we shouldn't be proud to display our national motto," Auxier said.

Auxier added, "I've got no problem with it and if you've got a problem with it, then don't read it."

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Auxier said the Kendall County Sheriff's Office plans to add the motto to its entire fleet, which currently has 28 vehicles. However, Auxier said he is waiting to replace older vehicles before completing that process.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports