Citizens bust a move with police
Published 8:45 pm Friday, July 27, 2018
After just a few takes, Suffolk’s police officers were panting and wiping their foreheads as a drone flew overhead trying to get all the right shots for their lip sync challenge video.
Plenty of officers, uniformed and not, gathered in a field at Bennett’s Creek Park Friday evening to shoot the second part of their lip sync video, and they invited the community to join in on the merriment.
“We live in Suffolk, and when we saw that we could participate, we jumped at the chance,” Theresa Rock said. “We just wanted to come out and have fun with the officers.”
The community came out in full force, and there were people of all ages ready to get their 15 seconds of fame while they danced their hearts out.
One of the younger dancers was happier than the whole crowd to be there.
“Dane wants to be a motorcycle policeman,” said his mother, Kimberly Rossler.
Dane, 4, is also involved in dance classes, and he couldn’t wait for the chance to combine his two loves — dance and law enforcement.
Of course, the officers had their own families come out to support the video as well.
“I want to give the community some support for this, and I especially want to support Suffolk,” said Pam Rivera. “Plus, I really want to watch them dance.”
Rivera is married to Suffolk Police Officer Joe Rivera, who also participated in the video.
Prior to planning the video, the city was a little nervous about turnout, but their officers surprised them. At every turn, they were ready to jump in front of the camera and make it a hit.
“The police department is very enthusiastic about it,” said city spokesman Andy Franklin. “They were happy to show them in a good light.”
Since police officers work in shifts, the ones participating at Bennett’s Creek weren’t on the clock, and they decided to use their time off to make the video a success, Franklin said.
Suffolk’s Media and Community Relations Department is handling all the footage and editing, and they are making sure to step up the production value. They had three cameras onsite, and Franklin was operating a drone. To make it even better, one officer’s wife volunteered to choreograph the dance.
Unlike some cities, Suffolk will have more than one song featured in the video, but the music and other locations are secrets, Franklin said.
The police department has one more shoot and editing of the video before releasing it, but it will be released in the “very near future,” said Media & Community Relations Director Diana Klink.
Suffolk Police Department was challenged in the viral sensation by the Virginia Beach Police Department and by the police department in Oshkosh, Wis., where Dean Smith, a former deputy chief in Suffolk, is chief of police.