Officer’s trunk judged real dog

Law Enforcement Technology magazine is giving Coeur d’Alene Police Officer Craig Buhl a makeover – of the trunk of his 1999 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car.

The officer was nominated for the magazine’s “Junk in the Trunk” contest by the police department’s equipment clerk, Tony Woltz.

In a letter nominating Buhl, Woltz wrote that Buhl and his canine partner, Justice, do an outstanding job.

Buhl is “continually hindered by having to rummage through the trunk in the darkness of night to find his tools of the trade,” Woltz wrote. “I can’t think of a more deserving officer, dog or car.”

Woltz pleaded, “Please help un-junk the trunk!”

The nomination letter included a picture of Buhl’s trunk, which has everything from dog leashes to orange traffic cones and uniforms stuffed inside. A bungee cord stretches across the underside of the trunk lid for additional storage.

Buhl was off work and couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.

Coeur d’Alene Police sent out a press release announcing Buhl’s prize for winning the contest: a “state-of-the-art” organizer to hold his law enforcement equipment and the dog’s supplies, too.

The tidied trunk will also be featured in the magazine’s November issue.

Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Wendy Carpenter thanked Woltz for nominating Buhl.

Woltz “is a high energy, resourceful employee,” she said, “and I appreciate his efforts to improve our canine vehicle at no cost to the taxpayers.”