You may have heard that we've been having a little party in Charlotte this week and that traffic is a mess with the Democratic National Convention in town. In fact, the Prez and 1st Lady are staying just down the road from our subdivision in the southeast suburb of Ballantyne and all of my usual routes to get to the grocery store, Target and the mall are closed.
All is not lost, however, thanks to my friends like Johnny, Tommie, Jay, Cody, PattyKay and all of you other current RR Georgia residents.
To help us out here in Charlotte directing traffic this week, you guys have sent a number of Clayton County, Georgia Sheriff's Department deputies. They have become the big hit of the convention mess here. By golly, maybe after Bruton Smith sees them performing here in Charlotte, he'll hire them to direct traffic at Atlanta Motor Speedway next year.
Just when we needed a little levity here in Charlotte, you Cracker folks from the Peach State sent it our way. Many thanks!!
Traffic jammin officers a hit uptown
Officers directing traffic draw a crowd with dance moves
By Lukas Johnson
ljohnson@charlotteobserver.com
Thursday, Sep. 06, 2012
Georgia Deputies turn traffic control into comedy act
CHARLOTTE, N.C. A handful of Clayton County Sheriffs Office employees are creating quite a reputation for themselves while directing traffic in uptown this week.
The Georgia deputies shake their hips, they escort ladies across the crosswalk and they drop to their knees and wave their arms frantically as vehicles pass on each side.
The officers call their impromptu moves traffic jammin. And the crowds love it.
Were just having fun here, said officer Michael Johnson. We dont do this on a daily basis, but were having a good time and actually doing a good job.
Were keeping the pedestrian and vehicle traffic moving, everybodys happy. Theyre loving it, giving us high-fives, cheering, taking pictures. Ive even been signing autographs. Its been a whole lot of fun for us.
The group of five sheriffs office employees said they started dancing kind of on a whim on Monday as a way to have fun during their long shifts. They said theyve never directed traffic this way before.
Since were going to be on a post for 12 hours, we thought we might as well have some fun doing it, said Johnson. Theyre all impromptu moves, but we each kind of have a signature move that weve all come up with on our own. I do a Michael Jackson move.
Deputy William Cooley said he likes to hop on one foot backwards as his signature move.
The moves kind of just come with the moment, said Cooley.
The passersby arent the only ones having fun.
You know what, were having a blast, said Cooley. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to come out here, serve the community and represent our home community.
Cooley said their antics have gotten a lot of unexpected attention.
Actually, we didnt intend on this picking up like it did, he said. Were just a couple guys working some traffic on the back street and it blew up and next thing you know -- now, we cant quit. Everybody comes expecting something, so you have to put something on.
Meka Vallier and her friends, Chelsea Rowssey and Kramer Grach from High Point University, took a photo with the dancing officers.
Its awesome, said Vallier. You never see cops let loose. Theyre always so serious all the time, so its nice to see them shake their butts like this.
Johnson: 704-786-2185
Clayton County Sheriff's Deputy William Cooley, and about five of his coworkers, created quite a buzz around Charlotte with their "Traffic Jammin.'" The officers busted out in impromptu dance moves while directing traffice and onlookers quickly grabbed their phones to document it.
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
