FIGURINES of Ron Burgundy from US film Anchorman were displayed in the windscreens of three PSNI Land Rovers during a raid on Bobby Storey's home.
The police vehicles parked outside the home of Sinn Féin's northern chairman each sported a Ron Burgundy bobblehead peering from the top of the dashboard.
The Land Rovers surrounded Mr Storey's home following his arrest on Wednesday over the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr.
The PSNI said police funds were not used to purchase the figurines of fictional San Diego newsreader Burgundy, played by Will Ferrell in the hit 2004 comedy.
Liz Young, head of the PSNI's corporate communications, said the bobbleheads were "a little attempt at humour" by Tactical Support Group (TSG) officers.
"The figures are simply light-hearted dashboard accessories bought by the members of the TSG team with their own money," she said.
"The work of TSG officers is often very difficult and I don't think anyone would begrudge them a little attempt at humour."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt has on occasion been dubbed the north's Ron Burgundy because of his previous career as a newsreader for UTV.
He has been at the forefront of the Stormont crisis over the IRA after his party withdrew their only minister from the power-sharing executive in protest.
Senior Belfast republican Mr Storey was among the three men arrested on Wednesday morning. They were all released without charge last night.
.@irish_news @LeifB73 From a risk assessment point of view it's a more desirable vehicle ornament than Gerry Kelly
— Tullyherron (@Tullyherron) September 11, 2015Officers were seen carrying bags and boxes of materials out of his home following the high-profile arrests that have destabilised the political institutions at Stormont.
Mr Storey, a former IRA prisoner, is a close ally of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and has an office at Stormont.
In 2005, UUP MP David Burnside said in the House of Commons under parliamentary privilege that Mr Storey was the head of intelligence for the IRA.
