Duck of Justice

via Buzzfeed

Gotham has the bat, but the city of Bangor, Maine, has something that will have criminals ... ahem, "quacking" in their boots. Meet the Duck of Justice, the unofficial mascot of the Bangor Police Department.

"I happen to believe that police officers are a pretty humorous bunch," said Sgt. Tim Cotton to the Associated Press, "I want to read something that at least has some humorous undertones. I wouldn't connect to a page that I didn't want to read." So Sgt. Cotton, who's in charge of the police department's Facebook page, decided to feature a stuffed duck that he rescued out of the trash.

"We've been using Facebook for a few years of course, I just asked if I could do it a bit differently, present us [the police department] a bit differently. I think in general people like to be entertained. I know I do, so if you can combine information with a bit of humor, then why not?" he added to Bangor Daily News.

And so the Duck of Justice or DOJ was born.

Sgt. Cotton used the duck to connect with the public in sometimes humorous, sometimes serious ways. For example:

Officer Larby (what a ham!) and the DOJ have taken some time for a buckle-up selfie
to remind you to just do it.

The DOJ took off for the races this afternoon and he was whistling "More Than A Feeling" and I can't find my wallet ... he must be feeling lucky!

Bishop communicates D.O.J. directives to some of his field operatives in the first photo. Later he is seen going over policy changes.

Outside the home of horror writer Stephen King

Being the commander of our Special Response Team and bomb squad member make him a little more cautious about new, inanimate objects covered with feather.

We are here for you. The D-O-J will be in the office all weekend if you have
any questions to be answered

Still waiting for Rookie Police Officer John Hermanson ... word is he was a little slow at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy as well.

View more about Duck of Justice over at the Bangor Police Department Facebook Page.