By Mariah Rush
Source The Charlotte Observer
One Alabama police department’s attempt at community outreach led to an unexpected viral video that stirred up love for the department and its chief.
“Hey it’s Chief Bowles with the Anniston Police Department,” began the now-viral TikTok video, initially filmed from an angle that only showed the top half of Chief Nick Bowles’ face.
“Chief, chief you don’t hold the phone like that, they can’t even see you,” interrupted Officer Jacob Ford, who took up the mantle of every exasperated person attempting to explain the video app to an older relative, co-worker or friend.
With that began a minute-long back and forth between the two, inspiring thousands of comments and nearly 500,000 views as of midday April 1.
A confused Bowles soon switched to an angle that showed his entire face.
“We decided to get on the TikTok,” Bowles began, attempting to get back to his initial premise.
“THE TikTok?” Ford interrupted, incredulously. “You don’t say that. It’s just ‘TikTok.’”
Bowles was then forced to give Ford a much-needed history lesson.
“It’s ‘the’ internet!” he said. “I was around when the internet was invented, you weren’t there Jake.”
Then, somehow, the filming quality got even better when Bowles switched to a filter that gave the chief sunglasses emblazoned with “Soulja Boy,” plus a sideways hat for extra flair.
Of course, Ford had more to say.
“Is that a filter? We don’t need to use a filter for this,” Ford — apparently tired from his day of TikTok instructing — said.
“I like it,” Bowles replied.
“Chief, you look like an idiot,” Ford replied.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Ford took the phone completely, and filmed the TikTok himself — with Bowles sulking in the corner of the video.
“We started this page to do a little community outreach,” Ford said, turning the video into a much less magical production.
“That’s the same thing I said Jake,” Bowles said from the corner after Ford finished his much less exciting message.
Commenters on the TikTok video clamored for much more content from Bowles.
“Jake, no offense but we’re gonna need the chief from here on out,” wrote one TikTok user.
“Quit trying to dull his sparkle! He’s a peacock, you gotta let him fly,” wrote a Bowles fan.
Unfortunately, according to Ford, the entire interaction in that initial TikTok video was staged.
“His idea was, ‘Hey, I’m going to play that boomer guy who doesn’t really know what to do with the phone,’” Ford told “Fox and Friends” about Bowles. “He was like, ‘I just want you to correct me constantly.’”
Regardless, the back-and-forth between the two was enough to capture the hearts of those outside the Alabama city.
“Neighbour to your North here (Canada) thanks for the laugh,” wrote one TikTok user. “Great content.. I also was alive when the internet was invented… Jake!”
Anniston is about 60 miles east of Birmingham.
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