When Twinsburg police Chief Chris Noga opened his mail in March, he was struck by a letter with a German postmark.“You don’t see that every day,” Noga said.The letter came from a German police officer who had in his possession a Dodge Charger that once patrolled Twinsburg’s city streets.The car had been retired from the fleet last year, stripped of its police identity and sent to auction.“Usually, you auction them off and you never see them again,” Noga said.But Officer Thorsten Schwetke of the North Rhine-Westphalia police department in western Germany had been looking for an American police car to restore when he came across the Charger being resold on the Internet. He purchased it and had it shipped overseas with the intent of restoring it to service condition.As a matter of courtesy, Schwetke wanted Noga’s blessing.The chief checked the Vehicle Identification Number to confirm the car had been one of his, and then thought, why not? The car was thousands of miles and an ocean away from anyone who would be confused by it.Noga even put Schwetke in touch with a couple of businesses that provide the graphics and the physical conversions and equipment necessary to turn a regular Dodge into a law enforcement vehicle.“With their help and a lot of Internet research, it was possible for me to collect most of the equipment used in the car,” Schwetke said by email. “Some minor parts are still missing, but in the near future I will add the missing things.”Noga had one special request.“The only thing I asked is that he change the number on the car from its original “3” to “45,” Noga said.That was the badge number of Officer Joshua Miktarian, who was shot to death during a traffic stop in 2008.Schwetke said the request moved him.“The story of Officer Miktarian is heartbreaking. As a father, I can’t imagine how big the loss for his wife and his little girl must be. So there were no questions about fulfilling the chief’s request,” he said.Schwetke said the Charger is the only police car he owns, but he has restored several others.As long as he covers the emergency lights on the car, Schwetke said, he’s allowed to drive it on public streets. But mostly, he’s interested in displaying it at police exhibitions, car shows and charity events.“This car will make people smile, especially kids,” he said.And he’s eager to share the story behind his car’s No. 45.“With its dedication, it will now help all of us to remember that there are too many officers who pay the ultimate price for protecting our communities,” he said.Noga said he also learned that Schwetke recently drove the car as part of a motorcade for a wedding between two officers.“I think it’s just great,” Noga said. “I might have to jump in a plane and go see him and the car in person some day.”Schwetke might make it here first.“The car will be cherished by my whole family,” he said. “We hope to visit Ohio some day and meet some of the guys in person who helped me rebuilding that car.”Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.