As you’ve probably read, the Wichita Police Department is using a mannequin, Officer Dolly, to slow down speeders. My column points to other possible uses for dummies — to give a lively feel to WaterWalk, say, or keep the Wranglers here in Wichita.
Before police go too far down this road, though, they should investigate the national outbreak of mannequin-on-human violence.
Mannequins, it seems, have a dark side.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
-
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in. -
Contact us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Chas on Open thread 8/29
- Chas on Open thread 8/29
- Rage on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
- BlueJay on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
- Phantom on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
- Phantom on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
- Boxlock on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
- Phantom on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
- BlueJay on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
- Boxlock on McCain’s surprise pick for veep
12 Comments
They’re gonna need a shit-load of them up at the Wild West sink hole to. Wonder what they can turn it into once it goes belly-up.
I think after having a look at the Cowtown situation I know thats just what I want to put both my and the city moneies in, a CW them crap-shoot.
For craps sakes folks, we live in a cowtown, why on earth would we want to dress up and point it out even more.
With the WaterWalk etc we are trying to move AWAY from such.
Hopefully we can push the county commissioners and city leaders to yank some chains in Topeka and get gambling to add to the waterwalk . If so it should be provided by both indian and non-indian companies from private industry such as Wynns , Harrahs etc. Dont let any group get a monopoly on the state gambling as they have in other states. Open it to others as well to provide competition.
Randy,Come on, this is a bunch of nonsense. Don’t you reporters (I understand the difference between reporters and op/ed writers) have better things to do?
I like the idea of using the dolls. If it will slow down speeders it will reduce accidents - and that’s the idea.
What I don’t like is officers hiding in school zones. I would MUCH prefer a live officer VISIBLE on the scene - or a doll, if it works to slow down the cars and PREVENT an accident. I find no virtue in the cop who witnesses an auto smashing into a child from his hidey-hole, pointing his radar gun at unsuspecting motorists while snarking down the Krispy Kreme’s.
In this case - out of sight, truly IS out of mind.
I think dolls could be a great aid to law enforcement, they could even help in prostitution stings. The city could save money doing this too, since there are Velentine’s sales at Vegas Video and the other adult stores in town.
The Doll is a good idea. Does he/she have any way to report sexual harrassment? I suspect there are innappropriate comments coming from other officers.This concerns me.
The main difference between a mannequin and any Sedgwick County official is that a mannequin does not seem to have the propensity to lie under oath or commit quite as many unlawful acts as the flesh & blood types.
LOL hey if it slows down the speeders- good…but isn’t it a waste of cars? Why not put a real cop in that car?
Better yet, go to using the cameras that catch the speeder’s license plates.
PMom, I share the thought on the use of cars. Then I starting thinking.
1. The cars are sitting, not rolling, so take less fuel.
2. Is the mannequin getting paid an hourly wage, and just how many doughnuts will she it?
Perhaps adding a camera to the doll or car would be a good idea.
dang…. EAT not “it”. *grin*
Many cities have gone to video taping / photographing people / cars / license plates and issuing tickets — has held up in courts as constituional. Chicago has cameras in high crime areas that can be viewed on patrol car computers — as well as the 911 center —- smacks of Big Brother for sure, but crime is down in those areas and revenue is up from tickets —- and cops don’t have to testify in court for traffic tics , saving tons of money I guess …
Wonder how long it’s gonna take for some one to steal the car and mannequin and hold it hostage for ransom —-
I think the mannequin was a good idea, as long as it slows some of the knuckleheads around Wichita down. As far as the comment by Davis about the Officers being visible in the school zones instead of hiding, if your not speeding or doing some other moronic act on the roadway I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m a hunter and if you think about it that’s what the cops are doing. You don’t go duck hunting and make a bunch of racket and stand out in the open, you conceal yourself and let the ducks (drivers) do what they normally would do. If you drive like a moron normally what better way to catch you than to watch you in your normal habitat without the influence of a cop car parked in the middle of the road for everyone to see. I’ve got a brother-in-law thats a cop, and it’s amazing some of the stories he tells. I don’t see how he has the patients for it. It sounds like everyones screaming about “that crazy driver” speeding around or driving crazy through the neighborhood until it’s them getting caught and then they have a “legitimate” excuse for their driving habits. Oh well, he can’t make everyone happy!