A viral TikTok video has helped the West Memphis police department recruit new officers.
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — A viral TikTok video from the West Memphis Police Department is attracting global attention as part of an innovative push to recruit new officers.
The department’s video, set to Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us,” has garnered millions of views and sparked inquiries from around the world as the force faces a critical shortage of personnel.
Just weeks after Lamar’s Super Bowl performance, which captivated viewers worldwide, the West Memphis Police Department jumped on the social media trend, creating their own version of the popular “Not Like Us” challenge.
“We were scrolling on TikTok because we were like, ‘We need to recruit at least 25 people, and we need to make it happen fast,'” said Officer Darrin Chase, who helped create the video. “We didn’t think it was gonna take off as much as it did. We just did it for laughs and giggles, hoping we could catch people’s attention for recruitment purposes.”
The result? A recruitment tool that has gone viral.
The video, which showcases officers having fun while promoting the department, has now been viewed millions of times across TikTok and other social media platforms.
Since the video was posted, the department’s phones have been “ringing off the hook,” with over 1,000 inquiries on their Facebook page about how to apply, according to Chase. The department said they’ve been receiving messages from as far as Canada and Africa.
The department, which currently has just under 100 officers, is specifically seeking young people and women to join their ranks.
Treshauna Lark, a fellow officer with the department, emphasized the importance of reaching younger audiences.
“It’s very important for us to get that recruitment out there and appeal to the younger crowds,” she said. “We want to draw more people into our department.”
As for the department’s marketing efforts, another key player in their recruitment campaign is a 2023 Dodge Challenger, outfitted in full police gear. Although not used for regular patrols, the car serves as a promotional tool for the department and the city.
“We are a small department, but we’re a big family,” Lark said, highlighting the tight-knit nature of the force.
With the video continuing to make waves online, West Memphis police hope the buzz translates into more applicants for their much-needed positions. As of Monday, the video had been viewed more than 11 million times on TikTok alone.
For those interested in joining the West Memphis Police Department, click HERE.