So-called Scarecrow Cops have been used to good effect in B.C., and Lloydminster will also give them a try.                               (Submitted/Coquitlam RCMP)

By Glenn Hicks

traffic safety

Can decoy cops work in P.A.?

May 13, 2019 | 9:01 AM

Prince Albert’s police department has no plans to use cardboard cut-out cops to help tackle speeding as some other communities have. However, at least one local city councillor figures it’s worth trying.

The so-called scarecrow cops are decoy officers that can be placed at key hotspots where speeding is an issue such as near school zones. The decoys have been used with much success in British Columbia and Lloydminster is to introduce them in the coming months.

Ward 7 Coun. Dennis Nowoselsky said anything that can improve safety should be considered as part of a mixed strategy.

“They’re also putting out pictures of children crossing the street in some communities to draw more attention to school zones,” he told paNOW. “Recently at our planning committee there was a recommendation made to put raised crosswalks at school zones to help slow traffic and that’s going to council [for consideration.]”

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The P.A. Police Service told paNOW they were not considering using the cut-outs, and utilize the speed alerts signs which are located at numerous areas in the city. The department’s Combined Traffic Services officer said these speed alerts were an effective tool in slowing traffic down.

However, Nowoselsky said it made sense to give things a try.

“Get a few [scarecrow signs] and you try it in one area and see if it’s working and then expand it if it is working,” he said. ”Stay in touch with Lloydminster and see how they’re doing. Every measure that can make safety improved in our city is worthy of being considered.”

Nowoselsky, who has previously called for a reduction in the police budget, added that deploying the cardboard cut-out cops might also help curtail taxpayer costs in certain traffic safety situations.

“We’ve got to reduce that extreme police budget,” he said. “Something’s got to be done to save some dollars so we can do the important remaining infrastructure projects and public works.”

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow