The Brewster County Commissioners’ Court has settled a federal lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation over the placement of crosses on vehicles with the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioners voted on the settlement during a meeting Tuesday morning after meeting in executive session, Brewster County Commissioner for Precinct 1 Luc Novovitch said in a phone interview.

The crosses were placed on the county’s sheriff vehicles in December, but were taken down after Kevin Price and Jesse Castillo, along with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, filed a lawsuit against Brewster County and Sheriff Ronny Dodson in March.

A call made to Dodson was not returned Wednesday morning.

On March 22, the Brewster County Commissioners voted to ban “political, religious, commercial or personal” messages or symbols on county-owned property.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-founder and co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, praised the settlement that has Brewster County paying them $14,000 in legal fees. Novovitch said Price and Castillo would also be paid nominal damages of $1 each.

“It sends a message about lining law enforcement with Christianity,” Gaylor said.

Novovitch said the settlement was agreed upon by the commissioners’ court to end the case and they do not admit any wrong doing on behalf of the county.

“It’s a settlement, not a court decision,” Novovitch said.

Gaylor said they are not pursuing a lawsuit against the “In God We Trust” decals on other law enforcement vehicles, similar to those in Ector County, because of federal legislation.

Approved in 1955, the phrase is mandatory on all coins and paper currency of the United States and courts have determined the motto religiously neutral.

“The sheriff is an elected official and he runs the office the way he wants,” Novovitch said. “He just can’t put specific symbols … on the cars.”