Bradley County Sheriff’s Department shrugs off complaint from Atheists

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The internet has made the world a smaller place.

A Facebook posting by the Bradley county Tennessee sheriff is detected by the American Atheist Legal center in New Jersey.

That prompted a letter to the sheriff asking him to stop promoting Christianity.

JAMES BRADFORD, BCSO, COMMUNICATIONS DIR. “The post was never designed to cause any dissension ..it was basically just standing up for our faith.”

Eric Watson is in Nashville for the Tennessee Sheriff’s association meeting this week. He points out that no tax-payer dollars are used for that Facebook account.

JAMES BRADFORD “Sheriff Watson was a Christian when he became sheriff ..before he was a sheriff, and he’ll be a Christian after he’s sheriff.”

Attorney James Logan frequently represents the county in legal matters.

JAMES LOGAN, BRADLEY COUNTY ATTORNEY “My understanding is that its sheriff Watson’s Facebook page. Its his Facebook page and he certainly would be entitled to express his religious views.”

JAMES BRADFORD “We’ll continue posting our beliefs on Facebook. The sheriff will always keep saying his statement as far as he’s a Christian. We won’t compromise on that. But we will ..and we’ve always practiced that we will never be offensive to anybody that don’t believe the way we do.”

The publication, the Friendly Atheist joined in the criticism, with one writer taking a personal shot—saying: “..I can’t imagine someone this ignorant heading up a sheriff’s department.”

The department responded with—

JAMES BRADFORD “All we’re asking is for them to respect our belief …and we’ll respect theirs.”