Evanston Police Release Lip Synch Challenge With Community

EVANSTON, IL — The Evanston Police Department released a lip synch video Wednesday in response to a challenge from its former deputy chief. Jay Parrot, now chief of Lincolnwood police, threw down the gauntlet to Evanston police in August. Two months later, his former colleagues have responded.

The video begins with a "mannequin challenge" through the police station lobby to a musical bed from Drake's "Hotline Bling." Evanston cops take to the field to the tune of Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get It Started," with a fancifully dressed Det. Ken Carter, Ofc. Tosha Wilson and Det. Rebecca Niziolek, executive director of the video, appearing on the lakefront before members of the public join with officers for a scene at the recently renovated Fountain Square. Next up is "Whatever It Takes," an Imagine Dragons song featuring members of EPD's special operations groups.

That's followed by arguably the video's strongest dancing performance: Evanston officers Enoli Daley and Amanda Wright joined by the Evanston Township High School varsity Pomkits to the tune of Ciara's "Level Up," although the work of 10 officers on the lakefront near Northwestern University to "Thriller" by Michael Jackson gives it a run for its money.

The police #LipSynchChallenge fad began in June with a deputy in the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas and has expanded from solo endeavors to elaborate group dance routines. Besides Lincolnwood, other local departments to have participated include Skokie and Niles.

Chief Rich Eddington, retiring at the end of the year after 11 years in charge, challenged the Oak Park Police Department at the close of the video, and Cmdr. Dennis Leaks issued a challenge to the "cast and characters" of the television program "Chicago PD." The video was produced with the assistance of local filmmakers including Evanston Photographic Studios and L'evated Photography and directed by Sgt. Charlotte Hart.

Watch the video below:

Earlier:

Skokie Police Lip Sync Challenge Raises The Bar »
Lincolnwood Police Challenge Evanston To Lip Synch Challenge »
Niles Police Answer Lip Synch Challenge With A 'Bang' »