Online dance craze sweeps American police departments

LOS ANGELES: In an online sensation, police officers across the US are dancing an updated version of the running man to a catchy 1990s hip hop song in videos.
The videos, set to “My Boo” by Ghost Town DJ’s, began in early May after police in New Zealand issued the Running Man Challenge to the New York Police Department. The meme started with two teenagers in New Jersey and became viral after college basketball teams picked it up.
The police videos posted on the Internet have been steadily getting more elaborate and more popular, with even some police chiefs joining in.
Los Angeles officers filmed themselves dancing inside the Dodgers baseball stadium and at a popular hiking spot in the shadow of the Hollywood sign.
Detroit officers did their dance after spilling out of a heavy-duty SWAT truck in front of a General Motors building.
The videos are about more than officers cutting loose. They come as police departments across the US are facing increased scrutiny and public criticism in the wake of a series of officer-involved deaths of young, unarmed black people.
Many departments have been working to become more community-friendly and improve their image. That includes turning to the power of social media.