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A ‘lip sync challenge’ with a deeper meaning

As the latest law enforcement lip-sync challenge sweeps the Internet, police known for protecting and serving are taking time out for singing and dancing.

In Pickens County, Georgia, the officers did both.

The Pickens County Sheriff's Office video posted to Facebook on July 26 takes a fun project and turns it into a public service announcement about stopping family violence.

The action is realistic, and the video comes with a "trigger warning" to watch it with caution because of what is depicted.

Pickens County Sheriff's 'Lip Sync Challenge' video has much deeper meaning

This Lip Sync Challenge video from Pickens County Georgia Sheriff's Office blew us away! AND - it has a very powerful message. Make sure you watch the video all the way through: https://2wsb.tv/2OnZdHp (WARNING: This video contains graphic content about domestic violence)

Posted by WSB-TV on Friday, July 27, 2018

The first seconds of the video are fun, with deputies lip-syncing in their jail sally port to Tag Team's ever-popular "Whoomp! There It Is!" But when Deputy Donnie Craig walks in, the music fades, and he challenges them to "think outside the box."

The video morphs into the song "Titanium," and a tale of domestic violence played out by employees and relatives of employees in the Deputy's Office. A man chokes and beats a woman as a little girl runs to lock herself in her bedroom to call 911. The Pickens County deputies respond to the call with blue lights flashing, rescuing the family and arresting the perp.

It ends with a deputy citing statistics about domestic violence – and letting people know where they can find help.

"According to the most recent statistics, law enforcement officers in Georgia responded to 65,487 family violence incidents in one year," he says. "We challenge you, our community, to help bring an end to family violence."

He adds that within the past year, about 15.5 million children have witnessed acts of domestic violence nationwide.

The deputy gives the number to a 24-hour hotline: 1 (800) 33-HAVEN.

The Pickens County Sheriff's Office says that the lip-sync challenge shows the joy and humanity of those in law enforcement.

"However, there is also a different side to law enforcement we want to draw your attention to. As we thought about this challenge and its purpose, we also wanted to show you that side," it says.

In a behind-the-scenes video, Sheriff Craig says they made the video after getting a lot of requests from residents.

"We wanted to do something different," says Craig. "We didn't want to do just the regular silly video that everybody else was doing. We kinda wanted to do something that was kind of outside the box and with a message."

"We were all pushing to be funny," says reserve deputy Shane Godfrey with the PSO. "Sheriff pushed to be serious. So we met somewhere in the middle."

The video racked up millions of views on Facebook, and many comments were filled with admiration and thanks.

"It was hard for me to watch because [that] could have been a home video of what I grew up with. Your video was more true to life than most could understand. God's blessing to all. Thank you," wrote Peggy Brown.

Viewer Mindy Enos said, "The very best one I've seen yet! Gave me goosebumps and tears! Way to go!"

Some women shared stories of how their abusers were able to skirt the law, even though their victims had reached out for help.

"He came thru my window and I had a deputy of the sheriff’s office at my house in my driveway with him violating the 500 ft mark & he told me there was nothing he could do," writes Mindy Boothe Shackelford.

Chessa Jordan Welch agreed, comparing her experience with the woman's in the video.

"I was always made to feel like I was being dramatic and they even seemed annoyed with me. The woman had no bruises or marks and in the situation depicted therefore he most likely would not have been arrested for banging on a door. I found my own way once [I] realized they were no help to me," she wrote.

Neither woman identified her city or what jurisdiction she lived in when having those experiences.

Pickens County Sheriff's Sgt. Jody Weaver reveals that the morning they shot the video, they also had a SWAT call-out, and some of the members of the SWAT team are also in the video.

They got both done that day, and the community seems grateful.

"It was so difficult to watch. But the message is far too important, not to. Thank you," said Debra Michioka Thompson.

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