Video: Two Police Officers Serenade Patrons at Restaurant with Ed Sheeran Song
Armed with a love for their city and some impressive musical talent, two Buffalo police officers are working to humanize law enforcement.
Buffalo, New York police officers Armonde “Moe” Badger and Michael Norwood, Jr. feel strongly about protecting and serving the community they love.
They know that people need positive interactions with police officers, and have been working together for years to build authentic relationships with people in Buffalo.
These singing Buffalo Police officers will make you smile https://t.co/95leTYNZGX pic.twitter.com/MNzenlU0f3
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) February 23, 2019
One of their tactics is a bit unorthodox in the law enforcement world, but it’s been working beautifully for Badger and Norwood, who both love to sing.
The duo recently went viral after singing a few lines from “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran in a downtown Buffalo restaurant.
“We need more officers like them,” wrote Chelsea Kelley, who took the video and posted it online.
Kelley is in luck, as Badger and Norwood are just two of the faces that are part of a larger community policing initiative in Buffalo.
The initiative, spearheaded by Commissioner Byron Lockwood and Captain Steve Nichols, is an effort to make genuine connections with Buffalo citizens, helping to change the way people view law enforcement for the better.
Badger told WKBW that community policing is about helping people understand that officers are human, too. They have families, they work hard, and they love their city.
“When you’re only dealing with (police officers) when they’re asking for your I.D. and for your registration, and they’re saying, ‘this is why I pulled you over,’ the humanity portion of them kind of gets pulled away,” Badger said.
“We love our community, we are not going to do anything to harm our community.”
The Ed Sheeran video is not the first time Badger and Norwood have gone viral for their singing capabilities. The two were filmed singing inside a barbershop, and the video became so popular that citizens started recognizing them.
“We’ve actually pulled people over the last week or so, and they’re like, ‘You’re the singing cops!’ said Norwood.
Badger has grown up around music, while Norwood has grown more comfortable singing in public because of his partner.
The two know they are facing an uphill battle to try and change people’s perspectives on the police, but they are working every day towards change.
“Just go out there, interact with the community, and show them — we’re not what you think we are,” Norwood said.
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