Crawford sheriff.jpg

An image of the new "In God We Trust" decals on Crawford County sheriffs vehicles

(Courtesy: Crawford County Sheriff)

CRAWFORD COUNTY, MI -- Crawford County Sheriff Kirk Wakefield isn't really concerned what critics think about him adding "In God We Trust" to patrol cars.

"This certainly is about freedom," said Wakefield.

Five of the patrol vehicles in his small Northern Michigan department were recently outfitted with the motto commonly seen on U.S. currency. He has plans to put it on the four remaining vehicles too.

Wakefield recently became president of the Michigan Sheriff's Association board of directors and had been thinking about adding the motto to cruisers for a while.

"I've talked with sheriffs from around the country. It's a topic that comes up," he said.

Wakefield said the "In God We Trust" motto is "what our country is about" and he appreciates it more, in part, because of his experience as a Vietnam combat veteran.

"I'm all about this country and what it was founded on," he said.

Wakefield said he planned to pay for the expense -- about $25-30 for each decal -- out of his own pocket.

"I didn't want any pressure to be brought to the county board from people saying 'he's using tax dollars for this,'" Wakefield said.

However, he did receive a $100 donation from the Grayling Baptist Church on Friday, March 4 to help defray the cost.

E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison