This isn’t a prank, but it sure looks like one. Keisha Huff is a mom and daughter of a now-retired police officer. She was recently driving with her family in Campbell County, Kentucky, and passed a department-issued SUV parked off the side of the road.
At first glance, it looked like a patrol officer was inside, monitoring the scene. A closer inspection, though, revealed the truth.
Some police departments park an empty cruiser in a visible spot and stick a mannequin in the driver’s seat
Yes, this is a real thing. It’s a low-cost way to slow people down.
When drivers spot the cruiser, they instinctively tap the brakes. The “officer” inside never moves, but from a distance, the illusion works.
Departments use this tactic in areas with repeated speeding complaints or where they lack enough officers to keep a constant presence
A parked cruiser with a dummy can remind drivers that enforcement is possible at any time. It costs far less than staffing a patrol shift and can be moved around to keep people guessing…