Police car dummies put brakes on crime
by Bruce Smith
"St. George, S.C.- The police here are no dummies.
Sure, a couple of the department store variety sit silently in an aging white police cruiser near the interstate, discouraging speeders and would-be bandits.
But that's because Police Chief Sammy Smith knows it's an inexpensive way to extend the reach of the nine-officer police force in this farming community of about 1900 people.
The mannequins, dressed as female officers complete with hats and sunglasses, draw bemused looks from drivers who invariably apply the brakes as the exit I-95 in search of lunch or a night's sleep at the collection of fast food restaurants and motels.
'I find myself slowing down whenever I see the car,' said Ann Atkins, manager of the Holiday Inn near where the dummies keep their silent vigil.
At night, she said, motorists see the cruiser but have no idea there are only mannequins inside. Even in the daytime it's hard to tell until you get close to the cruiser.
Back in 1996, Smith put the dummies in two of the town's old cruisers- each car with well over 100,000 miles.
Since then, he said, there has been little crime and not much speeding along the sectino of US 78 where bandits sometimes used to strike and then escape down the interstate.
'You should see the brake lights going on,' said Town Clerk Kimberly Ling.
'We did have a lot of speeding and a little crime in that area. This has deterred it,' she said.
'The two girls sit out there 24 hours a day and don't take a break and they don't complain,' the chief said.
Now and again, people approach the car, intent on asking directions. One man became so frustrated when he founf the mannequins inside, he kicked the tires, Smith said.
In High Point, N.C., earlier this year, people complained about an unfriendly "officer" who didn't return waves or who slept on the job.
One person thought she was dead and called 911. It was another female dummy in a patrol car designed to reduce traffic problems."
...hm....okaaaaay....see, to me that's kinda sick. Just plain weird. And random. Hm.