Arlington County police show off synchronized swimming skills to promote upcoming block party

In an effort that would probably make Olympic synchronized swimmers proud, the Arlington County Police Department is pulling out all of the stops to get residents to attend a block party scheduled for later this month.

In a video that is making a splash online, five officers shed their protective police gear and put on their goggles and floral swim caps to jump into the pool for a synchronized swimming routine that will make you laugh, cry and clap when it’s all done. (App users: Watch the full video here)

They came up with the idea as a way to promote a block party that is being held collectively between the police, fire and sheriff’s departments in Arlington County.

They all have zero experience with synchronized swimming, but watched a few videos online and took it from there. They came up with their impressive moves on the fly and it took them four separate shoots and several days to get it perfect.

“So we had to back and jump into the pool like 20 times because it just wasn’t right,” said Arlington County Police Sgt. Damon Washington. “Then a couple other times when I jumped in the pool with the vest on, the vest is more like a weight and it pulled me down. I had to have my other partner Dan or Darryl pull me out of the pool with one of the poles or something so I didn’t drown.”

“It got pretty outrageous and I tell you we had so many takes because we were laughing so hard,” said Arlington County Police Officer Daniel Gardner. “I think that we are humanizing the badge. We are taking something that people have one perspective of, be it good or bad, and then we are showing them that, ‘Hey, you strip this down, we're just like you.’”

The big event will be held on Saturday, August 26 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Kenmore Middle School. There will be free food and drinks, a kid zone, helicopter show, police K-9 demonstration, police motor demonstration, distracted driving course and more.

“We put this much effort into promoting our event – come on out because imagine what the event itself is going to be,” said Officer Ben Manning.