Courtesy photo Hudson Police Department officers, from left, John Mirabella, Jason Downey and Matt Blazon dance to “This is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan in the locker room.

HUDSON – Lip-syncing to “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, pumping CPR dummy chests to the beat and grooving to Michael Sembello’s “Maniac,” dramatically releasing water Flashdance-style, members of the Hudson Police Department danced their way toward internet fame Monday night with the release of a lip sync challenge.

Police departments nationwide have been recording their own versions of the challenge, showing officers dancing and singing to various songs, with many of the videos going viral. Hudson’s is no exception. As of Tuesday afternoon, it registered more than 200,000 views on Facebook, along with 4,800 shares, 3,900 reactions and 1,000 comments.

One commenter wrote the video “makes me kinda wanna get pulled over … minus the ticket,” and others said it was the “best one of all.”

As the popularity of these challenges grew, the Hudson Police Facebook page and Chief Jason Lavoie were flooded with requests from people wanting the local department to participate.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response pouring in from the community,” Sgt. Dan Conley, one of the officers involved with the video, said. “It’s good to see the police department in a positive light. We want to show people that we are more than just a uniform and a badge – we’ve got personality and humor.”

The video moves through the decades, featuring hit songs from the 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s.

The department enlisted Alvirne High School graduates Cassie Shelley and Georgie Gentile, as well as seniors Owen Worth and Jake Apitz, to help with filming, choreography and song selection. When they decided to recreate the famous scene from Flashdance, officer Matt Blazon stepped up to the plate.

For filming at Benson Park, Worth said he and School Resource Officer John Mirabella had to climb to the top of the old gorilla cage with a rope and a bucket full of water to dump on Blazon.

That particular song was one of Conley’s favorites, but he said the entire video was “a lot of fun and good team building,” involving everyone from the chief to the two newest officers.

“It takes courage to go up there and be a goofball and have it broadcast out there,” he said.

The last song, “Downtown” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis involved a lot of officers and community members (including someone with a lawnmower) and was filmed with a drone. The original plan was to film it at Hudson Old Home Days, Worth said, but the weather did not hold out.

The filming and logistics of getting everyone together were probably the most challenging parts, Conley and Worth both agreed, but Conley added that some of the dance moves also took some coaching.

“The outtakes must be hilarious,” he said.

Conley gives a lot of credit to the students who “brought it together,” but Worth said it was a lot of fun to get to know the police department in different setting.

“I never knew that personal side,” Worth said. “They’re really great people and funny guys.”

Hudson police did not officially challenge another department at the end of their video, but Conley said he believes the Nashua Police Department should be the next to do the challenge.

To watch the video, visit https://tinyurl.com/ya8xo5n5.

Hannah LaClaire can be reached at 594-1243 or hlaclaire@nashuatelegraph.com.

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