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Lt. William Edmundson’s model squad cars in law enforcement agencies across the United States — with the Alaska State Troopers, U.S. Border Patrol and even the seven-man Quartzsite Police Department in Arizona.

“First it was just locally, by word of mouth; but now I have a Web site, http://www.HotPursuitPolicecars.com, and I send out brochures,” Edmundson said.

Edmundson, an investigator with the Pharr Police Department, started building and painting model police cars five years ago. He’d wanted a model car of his own but the only companies that filled custom orders required set-up fees and bulk orders.

So he decided to build his own. And then one day, another officer saw it on his desk and asked for one.

“The first one didn’t turn out too good,” he said. “But the next one was better, and all the guys wanted them, and it just went on from there.”

As a teenager living in Detroit, Edmundson attended art school in between his regular high school schools. He’d planned on becoming a graphic designer, even taking some college-level art classes at the University of Texas-Pan American.

But he dropped out, he said, to fulfill his longtime dream of becoming a police officer.

“It was something I always wanted,” he said.

Now when he goes off duty, Edmundson gets to return to his art background. He designs graphics on his computer at home, creating decals based on actual patrol car designs and adhering them to the model cars he’s built.

“Modern, old, whatever’s available. Some of the designs don’t even exist, but they’ll want their emblem on a Corvette,” Edmundson said. “They can take 30 minutes to a couple days to make, depending on the detail.”

Prices for a model squad car range from $20 to $55, depending on the size. Edmundson says that hardly covers his costs, but he does it out of pride for the profession.

“There’s times when large orders come in, and it gets busy, but overall I like doing it,” he said. “Policemen want them because there’s an enjoyment to the job, and the pride you have as a police officer.”