A badge, a uniform and a heavy-duty belt usually mean serious business. But under a white event tent on a sunny afternoon, one local sheriff decided the only business that mattered was the beat. The officer surprised everyone by dancing to “Footloose” with a line dance crew.
The short clip was posted by the Bootscoot Bosses line dance crew. Led by instructor Kristin Clove, this Southern California group has built a reputation over the years. They’re known for performing everywhere from hometown fairs to Downtown Disney. This time, though, they had a special guest right in the middle of their lines.
He Didn’t Stay on the Sidelines
Most of us expect an officer on duty to stand at the edge of the crowd with his arms crossed, just keeping an eye on things. This one walked straight into the middle of the music.
The song, of course, is Kenny Loggins’ 1984 hit “Footloose.” People have been tapping their feet to it for four decades. It’s a song about shaking off the weight of the world, breaking free from rigid rules and letting go.
And there he was in full uniform, matching the dancers around him step for step. He didn’t wander in by accident. He knew every move. He hopped, twisted and kicked right on cue while the crowd cheered him on.
A Different Picture
We hear plenty of stories about tension between police and the neighborhoods they serve. This isn’t one of them. For 36 seconds, the man with the badge was just a guy who loves a good song, dancing under a tent with everyone else.
Maybe that’s why the clip makes people smile. When one person lets go, everyone around them feels a little lighter too. We all carry heavy loads from day to day, and sometimes it only takes a song to set them down for a minute.
Scripture reminds us there’s a season for everything, and that includes this one.
“A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NKJV)
WATCH: Officer Dancing to ‘Footloose’ is Pure Joy
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