In an innovative community outreach effort, the Anniston City Police Department is taking advantage of the latest social media trends.
Anniston Police Chief Nick Bowles and officer Jacob Ford recently launched the department’s TikTok account, which has grown to more than 25,000 followers since its first post went viral last week. Garnering over 367,000 views, the department’s video features the two partaking in a light-hearted back and forth argument over how to properly use the app.
@annistonpolicedept #copsoftiktok #police #cop #fyp #anniston #funny #foryou ♬ Back In Black – AC/DC
Bowles and Ford made a Thursday appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” during which they outlined their decision to engage with the public through social media.
“You know, we wanted our first post to be something relatable… everybody’s got that parent or child, that relationship that you need to be corrected on all these new internet things that are coming out. So, it was fun,” Bowles told host Ainsley Earhardt. “We thought it was funny and it’s gotten a lot more attention than we actually thought it would.”
Ford described how he and Bowles decided on the content of their viral post.
“I think it was both of us,” said Ford. “His idea was, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to play that boomer guy who doesn’t really know what to do with a phone. I just want you to correct me constantly.’ I was like, ‘OK, we can do that.’ We kind of just went with it. We actually do it all in one take.”
Bowles spoke to the public and physical attacks law enforcement has been subjected to of late. He said that the TikTok outreach was an effort to show the public that law enforcement officers are “human just like everybody else.”
“[W]e didn’t expect this reaction at all… There’s no secret law enforcement’s been kind of run over the past couple years,” advised the police chief. “So, we wanted to show everybody in the community, especially young folks, that we’re human just like everybody else. We have a sense of humor. We can take a joke and make a joke.”
Regarding the response from their colleagues, Ford said that they have “gotten nothing but love inside the department.”
“They love it,” proclaimed Ford. “At first, they were kind of hesitant, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I want to do that.’ But now they’re all about it. They want it.”
Concerning the community’s reaction, Bowles said the feedback has “been great.”
“I’m getting texts, emails, smoke signals — however they can get in touch me with me — I’m that old,” joked Bowles. “But my watch is sitting here blowing up this morning. People watching your show right now. I think it’s going to be great… We’re going to take it as far as we can and hope not to get fired.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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