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Police Prayer Policy Taken to Court

RICHMOND, Va. – A state legislator is renewing his effort to undo a Virginia State Police requirement that its chaplains deliver only non-denominational prayers at official events.

Del. Charles Carrico claims that the 2008 directive from State Police Superintendent Steven Flaherty violates the chaplains’ constitutional right to free exercise of religion.

The retired trooper and Grayson County Republican introduced legislation in the 2009 General Assembly reversing the order. It failed by one vote in a Senate committee, and Grayson has refiled it for the session that begins next month.

Flaherty issued the order after a federal appeals court upheld a Fredericksburg City Council policy requiring nonsectarian prayers to open council meetings.

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