Concord police danced their way into local internet fame this week after taking part in a lip sync challenge that’s sweeping police departments nationwide.
The video, shot on the State House lawn, features several members of Concord’s police force, but Dana Dexter, who holds the title of Master Police Officer, carries most of the groove train, lip-syncing his way through classics like “Stronger” by Britney Spears and “I’m Every Woman” by Whitney Houston.
Several other department members pop up in the background, and the second half of the video – primarily featuring Madonna’s “Vogue” – includes an appearance by Concord police Chief Bradley Osgood.
Dexter, who is on the verge of starting his 15th year of police work, is no stranger to dance: he’s been an instructor at Creative Dance Workshop of Bow for 14 years and comes from a dance-inclined family.
“It’s a fun outlet for my creative side from my police work,” he said.
Dexter said he choreographed some of the moves, but many moments from the video are ad-libbed – and when it came to the Spears and Houston clips, he admitted much of his dancing was “whatever came out of me.”
“I may have been practicing – although I didn’t know for what – for years,” he said.
Dexter said the video is meant to show community members that police work can have a lighter side.
“We’re committed to our community,” he said. “We enjoy doing things with the community. ... We like to be fun and human and personable.”
Billodeau Video Productions volunteered time for the project, and all officers featured in the video danced on their off time, Dexter said.
The video struck a chord with the community. It had already garnered 294 comments and 18,000 views an hour after it was posted Thursday morning.
Concord police challenged the Merrimack County Sheriff’s office and New Hampshire State Police to take part in the challenge as well.
The department’s biggest community outreach effort, National Night Out, will take place Tuesday at Rollins Park.