ALEXANDRIA, Ky. — The Campbell County Police Department is taking a unique approach in trying to get people to slow down. If people see a new officer out on the roads who looks a little off, they shouldn’t be alarmed.

Officer Manny Kin has been on the job for about two months. He likes to post up in areas where the department has received complaints about speeding, like just south of Campbell County High School.

People like Chris Gerrein do in fact slow down when they see him.

“I was driving in, I’m in a school zone, so I slowed it down. I thought it was legit. So it worked for me,” Gerrein said.

But when people get a close up look, they might want to speed away in the opposite direction. That’s totally unnecessary, as Officer Kin means no harm.

Once just a training mannequin in the police department’s basement, he’s now out in the world helping to keep people safe.

“It got me,” Gerrein said. “I thought it was a real cop.”

In the two months Manny’s been in use along with targeted enforcement on busy routes, the collisions are down and injuries have been cut in half, according to Police Chief Craig Sorrell.

Sometimes, an additional officer will be parked up ahead of or behind Manny.

It may not be a completely new method, but it’s serving the intended purpose. And at least one person appreciated Manny enough to bring him a donut, or at least a donut shaped balloon, tied to his cruiser.

“I’ve seen them use mannequins in different states before. They didn’t invent the wheel here, but I definitely think it’s effective,” Gerrein said.

Because of that, the department says it’s going to keep putting Officer Kin to work, which he seems to be fine with.

Sorrel said the department’s goal is not to write more tickets, but simply to affect driving behavior in a positive way.