From NW Cable News

Offbeat News

Feb 24

Cops Use Mannequin for Traffic Control

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- A former department store model is now working traffic enforcement for the police department.

Officer TED is a dummy, traffic Cpl. James Ginter said. Before joining the force, Officer TED - traffic enforcement decoy - had a career at Robinson's May as a store mannequin, but he was let go and donated to police.

Dressed in uniform, Officer TED is dropped off at busy thoroughfares to peer over the steering wheel of a patrol car. It's an effort to get motorists to obey traffic laws.

Officer TED serves as a visual reminder for people to check their speed, Ginter said.

"It's a traffic-calming device," he said. "Usually when the thing is deployed people will brake and slow down, whether they realize it's a real officer or a mannequin."