By Mark Price
The Charlotte Observer
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — What should have been a routine law enforcement safety video has topped 1.2 million views on Facebook after a Florida’s sheriff’s office decided to retool Michael Jackson’s classic “Thriller.”
The video was posted Oct. 20 on Facebook by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, which had a simple goal of sharing trick-or-treating safety tips in advance Halloween.
But rather than simply rattling off do’s and don’t’s, the department opted to have a group of deputies give the tips in the style of a music video.
Corporal Gaston Robin leads the group, wearing a classic Michael Jackson red leather jacket and zombie makeup. His dance team includes agents Candice Watson, Ashley Jennings and Anthony McDonough, and Corporal Miguel Melendez, department officials said.
It’s not clear how long the group worked on perfecting dance moves, but the sheriff’s office reports the video took four weeks to create, including one day filming and two days editing.
The resulting performance has gotten 3,400 comments, many of them lauding the department for the finding an “entertaining way to get an important message out.”
Some are demanding the department also post a bloopers reel of what was edited out.
“Y’all got some pretty fly dance moves too,” Kate Dullinger Billings wrote on Facebook.
“I can’t stop laughing cause it’s just that good,” Jadeline Smith posted.
“This is awesome. ... A friend from California posted this and I’m in Reno, NV. It’s getting around the country!” Heidi Brandow said.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has a history of using creative videos to deliver messages, including a “Wheel of Fugitive” game show parody and a retooling of “The Night Before Christmas” with home security tips.
“We are glad this is being so well received and the safety message is getting out to the public. The point of the video was to keep kids safe while they enjoy the fun of Halloween night and trick or treating,” the sheriff’s office told McClatchy News.
Brevard County is along Florida’s Atlantic coast, east of Orlando.
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