New Madrid County sheriff's department patrol vehicles are sporting a new decal

The U.S. motto "In God We Trust" is emblazoned on New Madrid Sheriff's Department vehicles, thanks to a donation from a vendor at the Missouri Sheriff's Association Conference last week in Branson, Missouri.

According to Sheriff Terry Stevens, "The Missouri Sheriff's Association voted at the conference to approve the decals' placement on all sheriff's department vehicles statewide."

Because the decals were donated, their placement comes at no cost to taxpayers.

Stevens noted that all though the patrol cars are in his department, they are still owned by the county. He approached the New Madrid Commission last Monday with the decals, and explained this would not cost the county anything, and they agreed to have the decals put on the vehicles.

"As of now, we have not heard of any complaints, but we are in the Bible Belt, and of what I have been hearing, it has been nothing but positive," said Stevens.

Bumper stickers with the motto recently have been placed on cars driven by police officers, sheriff's deputies and firefighters in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina and other states, reported the Washington Post last week.

Portions of this story available from the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau.