Rural Kansas city votes to remove ‘In God We Trust’ decals from police vehicles

The Haven City Council voted Monday to remove the “In God We Trust” decals from all police vehicles.

The Salina Post first reported the five-member council’s unanimous vote to remove decals bearing the official U.S. motto.

Council member Sandra Williams made the motion, which also required Haven Police Chief Stephen Schaffer to remove a post from the department’s Facebook page that included a scripture quote.

The Post reported that Williams told Schaffer it was inappropriate for police to invoke religion. Williams and Schaffer did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday afternoon.

“We had a concern from a citizen about it that was brought to the attention of a council member,” Mayor Adam Wright told The Eagle.

Wright, a non-voting member of the council, said the city’s legal department is looking into the matter.

“There should have been probably a little more discussion. I know our legal department is looking into, you know, is it an option? Can we have it? Can we not have it?,” Wright said.

He said personally, he disagrees with the council’s action to remove the decals.

“Whenever we are in emergency, we rely on [police], so they have to put their trust in something else besides human aspects,” Wright said.

Haven, located 40 minutes northwest of Wichita in Reno County, had a population of 1,166 as of 2019.

This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 5:16 PM.