The Sheriff of the Brevard County Sheriff's Department in Florida took to social media to defend his decision to place "In God We Trust" decals on the patrol vehicles in the agency's fleet as aging vehicles are replaced with new ones.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey said on Facebook , "In the coming months and years as our agency replaces our patrol fleet, our residents will see new patriotic graphics on our marked vehicles that show just how proud we are of our country and the principles our great nation was founded upon!"

Ivey continued, "While our vehicles will continue to include the iconic “Shuttle” design in honor of our Space Center history, they will now also include new graphics of an American Flag and the phrase “In God We Trust” that are both prominently displayed on each unit. To us there is no greater honor than to live in the greatest country in the world and serve as a law enforcement officer in Brevard County where our citizens love us, trust us and protect us just as much as we love, trust and protect them."

The decision to put the "In God We Trust" decals on the vehicles has drawn criticism from Atheist groups.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) said in a letter to the Sheriff that the new decal—which was suggested by a local military veteran—is "frightening and politically dubious."