Texas AG: Police Religious Motto Are Constitutional

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AUSTIN (AP) — Texas' attorney general has issued an opinion stating that a police department's displaying "In God We Trust" on its patrol vehicles is protected by the First Amendment.

Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote Wednesday that courts were likely to rule that displaying the motto was protected by the Constitution's Establishment Clause.

Police in the town of Childress have begun displaying the motto recently. That followed nationally publicized tensions between law enforcement and some of the communities they severe around the country.

When the nonprofit Freedom From Religion Foundation complained about separation of church and state standards, Childress' police chief invited the nonprofit's leadership to "go fly a kite."

State Sen. Charles Perry subsequently asked Paxton for legal guidance, sparking the opinion.

Paxton himself has been indicted on felony securities fraud charges.

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• First Amendment