In God — and Dashcams — We Trust

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By: Jeannine Wheeler

Just about everyone agrees that local police forces could use some good PR right about now. But is putting bumper stickers that say “In God We Trust” on their official police vehicles the answer? “In Dashcams We Trust” might make more sense.

Dashboard-mounted cameras are inconspicuous and automatically record video of the road in front of the driver, often providing a vital piece of visual evidence in automobile accidents and, increasingly across the nation, police stops.

It is just such dashcams and wearable body cameras that have exposed the rights and wrongs of some allegedly very bad civilian and police behavior, at times exonerating or vilifying one or the other and at other times ambivalent to the end.

The “In God We Trust” bumper stickers have begun appearing on police, sheriff, and firefighter vehicles in Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida, and elsewhere, according to The Washington Post.
Social media has had a lot to do with the trend spreading across police and fire precincts, and while many have supported it, there were bound to be opponents who say that the stickers promote religious belief.

Florida’s Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, however, said he was inspired to print 200 of the “In God We Trust” stickers after receiving an email that contained the phrase. He told The Post: “So I was trying to think of something that might set a fire to our guys. We want to be proud and we want people to be proud of us, and we know we’re better than how people portray us.”

But is further division the answer?

We shall see. Judging by social media and digital comments, America is, as usual, clearly divided.

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About the Author

Jeannine Wheeler is a PR Director who has worked in three countries, including Russia, the US and the UK. She is currently Sr. Vice President of Pure Energy PR, a full-service boutique communications firm with a focus on the energy, healthcare, technology, construction, real estate & land development, tourism & hospitality and food & beverage industries. Jeannine is in the firm's Austin, Texas office.

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