MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- An atheist group has sent the Montgomery Police Department a letter stating that the "Operation Good Shepherd" program is unconstitutional, according to The Raw Story.

The American Atheists organization says the program, which allows Christian pastors to be present at crime scenes to preach, violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution, according to the report.



The report says though the pastors are volunteers, the program uses public funding for administrative costs and to pay the on-duty police officers that train the pastors.



At the program's launch, Montgomery Police Chief Kevin Murphy said the program would combine the strengths of the police force with the strengths of the religious community to provide support and encouragement to the families affected by violent crime.



The letter, addressed to Mayor Todd Strange and Police Chief Kevin Murphy, says the organization has received complaints from residents and taxpayers about the 'Operation Good Shepherd'.



The organization argues that in order to be fair, the police department should also provide Jewish rabbis, Muslim imama and leaders of other faiths as well as a secular alternative to be involved in the program.



The letter should arrive at the Montgomery Police Department today.