The slogan’s great, but why use it to stir fears?

In 1956, at the height of the Cold War, a fearful U.S. Congress adopted the national motto “In God We Trust.”

America’s faith was not in question then, and is not in question now, despite efforts by some officeholders to portray religion as threatened.

The latest example is in Bowie and several other small towns along the U.S. 287 corridor and also across America, where police chiefs have added patrol car decals reading “In God We Trust.”

When the chief in Childress, Texas, received a letter threatening a lawsuit, he wrote a hostile letter in return ending, “Go fly a kite.”

Patrol cars have always been festooned with a variety of slogans. Many say “To Protect and Serve.” Fort Worth’s identify the city as “Where the West Begins.”

Sheriffs and chiefs have explained the decals as a way to show patriotism and faith in a time of officer stress, particularly after the recent killing of a Harris County deputy and other attacks.

Officers work at great risk, and there is no question of their dedication or personal devotion.

But law enforcement officials do not serve their counties or cities wisely by raising false fears or stirring needless rancor.

This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 5:55 PM with the headline "The slogan’s great, but why use it to stir fears?."