Niles Police Answer Lip Synch Challenge With A 'Bang'

NILES, IL — As promised, the Niles Police Department Thursday released its long-awaited #LipSynchChallenge video. Clocking in at nearly five minutes, Niles officers take part in the nationwide social media trend of police singing along and dancing to a mash-up of pop songs.

The video begins with Sean Kingston's "Fire Burning" and finishes up with "Firework" by Katy Perry. In between, the video includes a cameo from "Pitbull," (Sgt. Michael Boba) a "#mannequinchallenge" interlude, a solo by records clerk Rodika Boyer to "Lip Gloss" by Lil Mama, Niles PD K9 Ace and McGruff the Crime Dog, a rendition of "Bang Bang" at the shooting range (featuring Officer Carlos Jimenez-Very in a firearm-themed Hawaiian shirt) and a reference to "A Night at the Roxbury" starring Sgt. Ron Brandt and Officer John Gaba flanking Cmdr. Robert Tornabene.

Tornabene said the video was produced over the course of two half-days on Sept. 4 and 5, one day for choreography and another for shooting, with a final day of to wrap up on Sept. 12. There was increased participation on the last day of filming, he said.

"When I started showing it to everybody, I think everybody saw how good it was and they all jumped on board," Tornabene said.

Crystal Lake-based video producer Matt Sommerfeld volunteered to direct and shoot the video. Choreography was arranged by Jackie Graney of Studio 22 High TeK in Niles, the coach of the Maine South Hawkettes and a formerly dancer for the Chicago Bulls and community service officer with Niles police. The DJ Oh, Hush! was credit with the arrangement and Tornabene said one of the officers has his own drone and contributed some aerial shots.

The production team avoided including any music or moves that other departments had already done, Tornabene said. He said he conducted research one Saturday while tired of talking at a family party.

"I watched 200 police lip synch videos, it's crazy," Tornabene said. The production team, which included Chief Luis Tigera and his wife (who makes a cameo in the video), whittled the video down to 15 songs and under five minutes. Among the unique elements of the video, according to Tornabene, was was the front flip performed by Officer Kristine Kioltyka, who suggested showcasing her skill spontaneously during the shoot.

At a National Night Out event last month, Tigera had vowed to answer the challenge laid down by the Skokie Police Department after the neighboring department threw down the gauntlet to Niles and Lincolnwood at the end of its own 5-minute montage nearly two months ago.

Lincolnwood issued its own response in August, which was produced with the aid of a local morning show and challenged the Evanston Police Department and the 24th District of the Chicago Police Department in Rogers Park to bust a move.

Tigera challenged the Rosemont Department of Public Safety and the Chicago district of the Illinois State Police to pump up the jams themselves. Tigera was formerly the commander of the state police district, and Deputy Chief Joseph Penze works part-time with Rosemont.

More:

• Skokie Police Lip Sync Challenge Raises The Bar
• Lincolnwood Police Respond To Skokie's Lip Synch Challenge
• Lip Sync Challenge Video Stars Wounded Park Forest Officer
• Here Are The 10 Best Police Officer Lip Sync Videos