Plastic PoPo Recovering After Brush With ‘Death’


The Plastic PoPo (or Dummy Cop) now on duty in Ada, Oklahoma, had quite the scare after a drunk driver traveling too close to the shoulder smashed in to him while he was sitting in his patrol car on the side of the road.

The town enlisted the service of PoPo because it was too broke to hire a new officer. Setting the plastic officer out on the roadside served to get speeders to slow down — for a time anyway.

It’s not clear how effective he’s been at his job since breaking loose and becoming a hit on social media. Many of the town’s residents will seek him out for selfies, a practice the Ada Police Department doesn’t seem to mind, judging from the Facebook page erected in his honor.

From the News9.com report:

“Dressed in a blue Ada police uniform with a badge, the CPR dummy called the “Plastic Popo” looks the part. Chief [Mike] Miller says they set him on the side of the road and people slow down when they see the car…. The ‘Plastic Popo’ has seen some bad days. His car was recently hit head-on by another driver and had to be towed off for repairs.”

“He was 10 or 12 feet off the shoulder and a drunk driver came along and took out the car,” said Miller, adding that “as soon as the police department gets another used vehicle,” he’ll be back on the beat.”

On social media, people are allowed to post pictures and make comments regarding their experience with Dummy Cop.

The page administrator warns, however: “Post location updates and creative pics here. Remember be kind, respectful, and don’t do anything that will make the real PoPos upset with you.”

So what has Plastic PoPo been doing since his accident? According to the Facebook page, he’s been recovering from his “injuries” and “helping out in the Clerk’s office.”

As Huffington Post notes, this isn’t the first time that law enforcement has made creative efforts to “fool” the public. India actually used cardboard police officers, but that plan seems to hit a snag every time it rains.

For our money — and we’re not just saying this because we’re American — the Plastic PoPo is where it’s at. He’s three-dimensional so you can’t make out whether it’s him or a real officer from a distance.

What do you think of Plastic PoPo — good idea or waste of money? Share your thoughts in our comments section.

[Image via Plastic PoPo Facebook page, linked above]

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