Paws, Props, and Patrol Vehicles: Our Completely Unofficial Cruiser Awards | Carscoops

      What better symbolizes "protect and serve" than a puppy (or a bison) alongside a police car?

      16 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Each year, state police agencies set aside some time from their hectic schedules to engage in a bit of fun: they compete for internet attention. They gather their most impressive police vehicles, position them in visually appealing locations, and then face off against agencies from other states in an online voting contest.

      Sometimes, they also combine various images in Photoshop in ways that might leave you questioning if an inexperienced intern was behind the work. The 2025 Best-Looking Cruiser contest has just concluded, and while we await the official announcement of the winner, we are excited to present our own version: the Carscoops Totally Unofficial Cruiser Awards.

      First up is the “Doing The Most” award. This honor goes to the department that arrives with the most enthusiasm. It should be attention-grabbing, unexpected, or even astonishing. Many departments took this year’s challenge quite seriously. Most of the photos submitted featured a well-known landmark or a nature scene that thoroughly represented the state.

      In Kansas, although there aren’t any towering mountains or picturesque rivers in the backdrop, the officers creatively showcased their vehicles by parking a couple of classic Dodges in front of Prairie Thunder, a striking sculpture by Christian Stanley located in Clay Center, Kansas. This choice certainly makes the image pop in what is otherwise a very flat landscape.

      Next, we have the “Doing the Least” award, granted to the department that best represents the art of indifference toward the competition. It’s worth noting that perhaps they cared but were just too busy to create more impressive photos. Curiously, there were very few contestants in this category, as most departments did put in some effort with staging.

      Our winner for 2025 is Pennsylvania. Given what this state is known for, one might expect the officers to stage a remarkable photo. However, it seems they might have forgotten about the competition and simply took a snapshot of a police Tahoe on an ordinary winter day. The streets are unpaved, the scene lacks excitement, and there’s nothing particularly distinctive about it being Pennsylvania. Well, at least they received an award, right?

      The “Best Dog” award is fairly self-explanatory. It’s not given to the state that attempted to sway the votes by including a canine in the photo, but rather to the dogs themselves. This year, Ohio (as seen in our leading image), North Dakota, and Colorado each included a fantastic dog in their submissions. However, it was Colorado that took home the win. While all the dogs were deserving, Colorado featured not only a great pup but also a Ford Mustang, which certainly adds to the cool factor.

      The Best Backdrop award encompasses more than just the cool factor of having Prairie Thunder behind some vehicles. It recognizes the state that utilizes the most iconic imagery in a visually appealing manner. This year, California deserves the award. While many states had impressive backdrops, California presented a stunning site with the Golden Gate Bridge, a sailboat, and the classic CHP cruiser design on a modern Charger. It’s a wonderful composition.

      Conversely, the “Worst Backdrop” award highlights entries that appeared completely unprepared, and unlike Pennsylvania, the background here isn't even inherently beautiful. This year, Wyoming takes the award because when we think of a state known for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park, we expect breathtaking landscapes. Yet, this is the photo Wyoming submitted.

      I’m unsure what those buildings in the background are. They might possess some historical significance, but I doubt it; feel free to look them up. They are disappointingly underwhelming compared to what the state has to offer. Come on, Wyoming – you can do better.

      Next, let’s present one of my favorites, the Underappreciated Award. Initially, I considered naming it the “Most Photoshopped” award, but after further investigation, that didn’t seem fitting. Nevada’s entry features the Hoover Dam, a strangely lit Mustang, and some Bighorn sheep. While it appears to be a photoshopped mix, it turns out that’s not the case.

      The photographer, T. Nathan Grant of TNG Photography, informed Carscoops, “The car was actually there and lit piece by piece. A total of 50-60 images were used to create the effect, but it WAS in that location. The sheep were requested to be Photoshopped in.” So while the animals didn’t genuinely appear, the effort behind this photo is undoubtedly some of the most intensive of all the entries.

      The “Coolest Cop Car” award is one that the voters will ultimately decide, but since this is a car website and we are fond of our vehicles, the winner seems clear. Car chases can be risky and even life-threatening, and perhaps it’s best if they no longer occur, but if they must happen,