DAVIDSON COUNTY, NC -- Four words on dozens of sheriff's department cruisers in Davidson County have sparked a conversation.
The sheriff's office has been quietly putting the motto, "In God We Trust," on its cruisers, since December.
"If there's a God, there has to be a devil right? And we deal with the devil's work every day," Sheriff David Grice said. "That wasn't the goal to do anything political or whatever. That's why we didn't announce it. We just put it on there because it's what we believe in."
Grice says putting the decals on the patrol vehicles wasn't a tough decision.
He adds that anything that gives deputies "a little bit of protection when they're out there helps."
A former county commissioner, who is part of a national movement, approached the sheriff last year about putting the words on patrol cars.
Within weeks, local churches came together to foot the bill.
"I don't think I could have used tax dollars because some people would say there's not a separation of church and state," Grice said.
Around town, many WFMY News 2 spoke to support the sheriff's decision.
"I support it because I've been raised Christian by whole life," said John Owen, a community member.
Bill Todd, who also lives in the county added, "I don't see anything wrong with it. I would hope everybody trusts in God."
While Sandra Johnson likes the message, she says, she doesn't think the police vehicles are "a good place to have it."
Overall, Sheriff Grice says the response has been overwhelmingly supportive.
Reporter: "If someone is out there, who hasn't reached out to you or said anything to you, who doesn't think this is a good idea, what do you say to that person?"
Grice: "It's a decision that I had to make. And, I made that decision based on my personal faith and what I feel a majority of people in the community and our county feel. You're not going to make everybody happy so we just had to make that decision.
Back in 2002, the "In God We Trust" motto caused quite a controversy in the same county when commissioners voted to put the message on government buildings.
The ACLU fought but the courts eventually gave the county the green light.
Grice says his office is still working to deck all the patrol vehicles in the decals. Many are done but several will have to wait until the weather warms up because they stick better.
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