Crime & Safety

VIDEO: NYPD Cop Serenades East Village With Backstreet Boys

One of New York's finest put on a show over the intercom for the East Village Saturday, a hilarious video shows.

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Call him the Backstreet Boy in blue.

A NYPD cop belting out a boy band hit over the intercom of his police cruiser in the East Village has become the star of an Instagram video.

Officer Richard Gunther serenaded onlookers with "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys Saturday afternoon while he and his partner were in their patrol car parked near Astor Place, according to a video capturing the scene.

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The clip shows Gunther passionately singing over the police car's public address system while his partner, Officer Bill Hunz, sits beside him, smiling as amused passersby record the surprise show on their cell phones.

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“That’s going viral for sure,” one woman in the video is heard saying. The crowd erupts into cheers as Gunther hits the 1999 song's final notes.

The Instagram user who posted the video praised the officer for the comic relief.

“The NYPD absolutely nailed it today,” Jordan Haskins captioned the video. “So cool to see the humanity in our law enforcement. A small thing like this can really give you some hope in such uncertain times.”

The golden voiced cop wrote back that he was happy to bring a smile to New Yorkers' faces.

“Thank you for taking and posting this video! I’m So glad I can entertain everyone,” Gunter wrote on the Instagram post. “Feels great interacting with the community and seeing all the smiles/laughs! You guys are the best!”

His partner also commented on the post saying, “thanks for the laughs today Rich… No other person I’d rather ride around with all day! #communitypolicing”


Lead photo courtesy of Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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