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Atop stilts, St. Petersburg officers do 'Running Man Challenge,' call on Tampa police (w/video)

 
St. Petersburg police posted a video of officers doing the 'Running Man Challenge" early Tuesday. At the end of the video, Chief Holloway challenged Tampa police to do the dance. (St. Petersburg police, YouTube)
St. Petersburg police posted a video of officers doing the 'Running Man Challenge" early Tuesday. At the end of the video, Chief Holloway challenged Tampa police to do the dance. (St. Petersburg police, YouTube)
Published July 26, 2016

ST. PETERSBURG — The viral dance craze created by two New Jersey teens that took over the internet a few months ago finally made it to Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

The St. Petersburg Police Department posted an elaborate video of the "Running Man Challenge" early in the morning. (Like, one of the officers was dancing on giant stilts elaborate.)

And when they finished, Chief Anthony Holloway dared Tampa police and Chief Eric Ward to do the same '90s-inspired dance challenge on camera.

"If you can, bring it," he said.

St. Petersburg police were challenged by radio station Hot 101.5, and Mayor Rick Kriseman answered.

The video begins with Kriseman on his cellphone: "We've been called out to do the Running Man Challenge. I need St. Pete police officers here A.S.A.P."

Soon police — and even McGruff the Crime Dog — swarm to the waterfront alongside the mayor to dance to "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJ's. (That song that goes, "At night, I think of you ... " and will be stuck in your head all day after hearing it once.)

The group of officers then take over Tropicana Field and dance alongside Rays mascot Raymond.

Although the dance challenge was created by two teens goofing off in finance class, it was made popular by two University of Maryland basketball players' videos. After that, it got crazy popular throughout the spring: other college teams, NBA teams, football teams and, soon, law enforcement agencies started answering calls to do the dance.

There's always time for dancing! Or whatever we want to call this. https://t.co/pifKzJ477A

Miami police did their version on May 14, and Winter Haven police released theirs about two weeks later.

So Tampa Bay may be a little late to the latest online dance trend (remember the Harlem Shake?) but we'll have to wait and see if Tampa answers Holloway's call.

Holloway may be in the video, but it doesn't appear he's one of the dancers. Maybe Ward will show off his moves?

Contact Sara DiNatale at sdinatale@tampabay.com. Follow @sara_dinatale.