A Garland detective built a detailed Lego replica of downtown now on display at City Hall, using creativity as an outlet and a way to connect with the community.

GARLAND, Texas — A familiar Garland scene is drawing gasps and smiles at City Hall, only this one fits on a table.

The detailed Lego replica of downtown Garland was built piece by piece by Detective John Capers.

Visitors lean in close, pointing out landmarks as they recognize them in miniature.

“It’s better than using a map, coming here and looking at this,” said Dee Carter, a Garland mom.

The model took about 150 hours to complete and uses roughly 27,000 Lego pieces.

For Capers, Legos are more than a hobby. They’re his creative outlet and a way to unwind from the demands of the job.

“We have a barbecue place, a florist shop, a pizza shop, a guitar shop, that are pretty popular here in Garland right now,” Capers said, explaining how he chose which details to include.

Capers has worked financial crimes, thefts and burglaries for 26 years. He said the work can take a toll.

“In our line of work, you see a lot of rough things, you have to do a lot of rough things, and that can weigh on you,” he said. “I think a pitfall of a lot of people in law enforcement is not having a way to have an outlet to blow off some steam. And so for me, doing this kind of thing is what worked for me.”

This isn’t Capers’ first large-scale Lego build. The downtown model follows an earlier replica of the Garland Police Department. The project carries deep meaning.

Capers said he built it after losing his best friend and fellow detective, Tommy Barnes, to cancer.

“I know that if he was here today with me, he would just be right beside me, loving this and talking about it,” Capers said.

The model is filled with personal touches, including Bob Ross painting near a playground, a nod to Capers’ own interest in art.

“He was probably the most inspirational person for me learning how to paint,” he said.

Every small detail, Capers says, has a story behind it.

“A lot of times, law enforcement gets portrayed in a certain negative light,” he said. “We also have talents and hobbies, and when people see that personal side of us, I think that also helps with that image.”

If the reactions inside City Hall are any indication, the message is landing. Visitors gasp, smile and linger, taking in the tiny version of a city they know well.