by Unofficial Awards for the Best Police Cars of 2025
Every year, police departments in the United States participate in an unusual competition—they compete for the title of the most beautiful patrol car. They prepare meticulously: choose the most impressive cars, find picturesque locations for photos, and try to amaze the viewers. The official winner has not been announced yet, but we can already sum up the unofficial results.
Among the most notable categories is “Most Effort”. Here, Kansas was recognized, where the police chose the impressive art installation “Prairie Thunderstorm” as a backdrop. The state has no mountains or canyons, but they found a way to stand out. In contrast, Pennsylvania received the “Least Effort” award—their photo of an ordinary police car in the snow looked very mundane.
Animals and Landscapes in the Competition
The participation of animals in the competition was separately acknowledged. Colorado received the “Best Dog” award, where the photo featured not only a cute dog but also a cool motorcycle. However, Oklahoma impressed with a different approach—a majestic bison, staring intently into the lens, was in the foreground of their shot.
California won in the “Best Background” category for a photo near the Golden Gate Bridge, while Wyoming, on the contrary, received an anti-award for the most boring backdrop. Despite the state having incredible national parks, they chose a completely unimpressive shot for the competition.
This year’s photos demonstrate how different the approaches to such a seemingly simple task can be. Some departments approached the matter with humor, others with artistic taste, and still others, it seems, simply forgot about the competition. It’s already interesting to see what they will prepare for next year.
By the way, one of the most discussed shots is from Nevada. At first, it seemed like crude Photoshop, but it turned out that the police car was actually lit in sections, with over 50 separate shots taken. The only thing added in the editor was the bighorn sheep in the background.
