Summit Hill officers go viral with video

When a cellphone video of police officers goes viral, it can often be for something unflattering.

But a pair of Summit Hill Police officers have racked up 4,000 views, and lots of thumbs up, on YouTube for their entry in the popular lip-sync challenge.

“From what I’m told, it’s nothing but positive feedback,” officer Brian Horos said.

Horos and officer Mike Morresi joined a long list of other officers from around the country on Thursday when they posted their version of Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack.”

According to Horos, the video isn’t just about having fun, it’s about showing people that behind the badge and uniform, police officers are human too.

“This day and age, police are so misunderstood, and we just want the public to know that under this uniform, we’re humans too,” Horos said.

The video took about two takes. Morresi, who held the camera, sang the lead. But Horos steals the show with his deadpan delivery of the spoken-word section of the song.

Horos said the idea for the video, and the song choice, came from his partner. They filmed it inside a cruiser while stopped in the borough.

“We weren’t challenged, however we do look forward to other departments in this area participating,” he said.

The trend started when an officer in Texas posted a lip-sync video, and challenged other departments in his area. So far the most popular video is from the Norfolk Police Department in Virginia, whose choreographed version of Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” has over 46 million views on Facebook.

The guys from Summit Hill have a long way to go to get to that point. But they are impressed by how far the video spread in just over a day.

“When we made the video, not in my wildest dreams did I think it would get 4,000 views,” Horos said.

One important critic they had to impress was their chief, Joseph Fittos. Horos said that he got a text from one of Fittos’ relatives giving the thumbs-up.

“He has a sense of humor. And if it sheds a positive light on our department, I think he’s for it,” he said.

Horos said no one has recognized him so far on the street because of his performance, but he knows it’s only a matter of time. When it happens, he will proudly admit to doing the video — because his partner roped him into it.

A crucial part of the viral trend is challenging other departments to make their own lip-sync video. Summit Hill has challenged Lansford, Weatherly and Jim Thorpe police departments.

As of Friday afternoon, none of them had responded. Regardless of whether the trend catches on in Carbon County, the Summit Hill Police accomplished their goal of sharing their personality and giving local residents something to smile about.

“We’re all human under this uniform. When we go home to family or friends, we live as normal a life as possible,” Horos said.