The Daily Record
By TOM WOERNER
Of The Record Staff
Anyone who pulls behind a Harnett County Sheriff’s deputy will find a new decal on the cars which shows support for a higher power — one of two moves Sheriff Wayne Coats is instituting to ask for protection for his officers and unity within the community. Sheriff Coats, who became sheriff earlier this year after Larry Rollins resigned, has accomplished something he has wanted to do for several years. Each car in his department is now emblazoned with the words “In God We Trust” on the rear of the car. The words were put on the back of each car in the sheriff’s office’s fleet in the last several weeks.
“I have wanted to do it for a long time, but I wasn’t the sheriff,” he said.
He said he made the move partially in response to several shootings in the country in recent weeks. Most recently three officers were killed in Louisiana. Five officers were also shot and killed in a massacre in Dallas, Texas, earlier this month. Six officers were also injured at the same time.
The sheriff said he wants the public to know his office is asking for safety and protection as they patrol the roads of Harnett County.
See Prayer, Page 3
Daily Record Photo/Tom Woerner Harnett County Sheriff’s Office Deputy D.L. Lucas is shown with his patrol car, now carrying the words ‘In God We Trust’ on the bumper. An officer/community prayer event will be held next Thursday at noon in the Harnett County Veterans Memorial Park beside the courthouse in Lillington.
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“With everything going on in the country we need God more than we ever have before,” Sheriff Coats said. “I just thought this was a good thing to do.”
The sheriff said no taxpayer dollars were used in the project.
“This was all paid for with private donations,” Sheriff Coats said.
Sheriff Coats is hosting an event next week in the Veterans Memorial Park between the courthouse and Government Complex in Lillington in an effort to promote unity between his officers and the community. The event is advertised as a prayer event.
“Recent events in Dallas and elsewhere have convinced me that we need a day of prayer for the law enforcement of Harnett County, North Carolina, and the United States,” Sheriff Coats wrote in an advertisement for the event. “By coming together in prayer I know we can begin to build closer, better relationships and encourage unity among all facets of our community.”
The sheriff has asked several preachers from the county to participate.
The event will be held on Thursday, July 28, at noon.
In Dunn, there are prayer walks each day this week. Local citizens are circling the police departments, offering prayers as they go, each day at both noon and 5:30 p.m.
The gatherings have been increasing in number. There were seven walkers at the first event Monday at noon and 14 on Tuesday at noon.
“It makes us feel great to see them out there and know they are supporting us,” Dunn Police Capt. Johnny Royal said. “It really makes us feel good.”
Anyone in the public is invited to participate in the prayer walks.
