Tega Cay received hundreds of complaints for removing fallen officer's monument

TEGA CAY, S.C. — The decision to plaster over the word "Lord" on a fallen officer's memorial outside the city police department and then, eventually, the removal of the monument was one of the most controversial stories to come out of Tega Cay in years.

A Channel 9 records request revealed the city received more than 460 pages of complaints, including an overwhelming amount in opposition to the city's decision to remove the monument.

In July, the Women's Club of Tega Cay gifted police the monument.

[RELATED: Tega Cay to restore controversial monument with officer's prayer after backlash]

On July 12 a resident emailed the mayor and Tega Cay leaders expressing concern about the prayer on the monument.

"It has been brought to my attention that the new police station has a monument adjacent to the facility with biblical scripture engraved on it," the email said. "While I have heard the item is a gift and know that the passage is a tame and positive message, I believe this sets a bad precedent for what reflects our community as a whole. I believe it gives an impression that one segment of our population is recognized above others in our community."

Mayor David O'Neal said the city's use of monuments of that kind has a longstanding tradition on respecting and tolerating different views. He also said he would talk to the city attorney.

"As Justice Sam Alito recently ruled in the Latin Cross War Memorial cast that monuments of this kind have a longstanding tradition in respecting and tolerating different views and try to achieve inclusivity and nondiscrimination by recognizing the important role religion plays in the lives of many Americans, therefore are appropriate for the purpose as intended," O'Neal wrote. "I will speak with our city attorney next week."

The resident who made the complaint was not satisfied with the response, according to emails.

"Sorry Dave, a biblical scripture on a public building, especially a law enforcement facility is not appropriate," he said. "It gives the impression that only one segment of people are welcome in Tega Cay, but not others. It is insular small-town thinking to say otherwise. It is also grounds for a legal headache that can easily be avoided."

A little more than a week later when the city decided to remove the monument, hundreds of complaints from across the country and the world started to pour into the inboxes of city leaders.

A man from West Fargo, North Dakota emailed leaders, saying, "I read with despair the story of your little town that has rejected God by literally scrubbing his name off a monument."

A man from Winnipeg, Canada, wrote, "I really hope you treat the officers in your city with some respect. But after this move, I doubt it."

One man emailed city leaders saying he was going to personally paint the word "Lord" back on the monument.

While almost all the emails to city leaders were in opposition to the city's decision, one person wrote to city attorney Bob McCleave asking him to stand strong.

"I imagine you are catching hell today, but I hope most people realize you are right," the email said. "Salisbury, North Carolina and Alabama come to mind as places that spent much money and lost. Still, calls for your head on a pike are bound to be plentiful. Something I learned over time may be helpful: Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig."

The city eventually reversed course and ordered the monument back in its original state.

After that decision, the complaints receded.

A woman in Tallahassee, Florida, wrote to city leaders saying, "I just want to say thank you for reversing your decision. God bless you!"

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Cox Media Group