VIDEO: Cops Say ‘Call Me Maybe’

Tampa Police Department officers do more than patrol streets and bust bad guys.

They also lip-sync and dance.

A new video on the department’s YouTube page serves as the proof. A parody of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” the video is designed to help officers bridge a communication gap with younger residents. In it, they lip-sync to Jepsen’s catchy tune in an attempt to let younger residents know they’re always there to help.

The video, which features, about a dozen dancing, lip-syncing officers and support personnel has gone viral. It was posted on Oct. 29 and already had nearly 47,000 views by 9 a.m. Nov. 5.

So why would the agency’s men and women in blue create a parody of a pop song?

The answer is simple says agency spokeswoman Andrea Davis.

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“We are always looking for new ways to connect and communicate with our citizens,” Davis said. “Our biggest challenge is the younger audience. We were thinking outside the box to find new ways to connect. The ability to individually interact with the citizens we serve is priceless and that is what this video has done.”

Davis said the video is helping break down a barrier between law enforcement and younger residents. That barrier is critical to remove to help keep Tampa’s streets safe.

“We have been individually tweeting and communicating on social media because of this video,” she said. “Our hope is, that because of the interaction, when someone has a crime tip or information and maybe they were afraid to contact us before, the video bridged that gap. They see the human side of police and realize they can connect with us.”

But did they enjoy making the parody?

You bet!

“We had a lot of fun making it,” Davis admits.

What do you think about the video New Tampa? Let us know in the comments section.