BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — 7 Eyewitness News was the first station to introduce you to the duo — now dubbed the “Singing Cops”.
Buffalo Police officers Michael Norwood, Jr. and Armonde “Moe” Badger skyrocketed to fame.
“We have a lot of people coming up to us now saying, ‘Hey, I’m taking the police exam because of you guys.’”
First going viral from a Facebook post of them singing in a barbershop, the officers now attribute a lot of what has happened since then to the initial story we did introducing them to Buffalo, and now the rest of the nation.
“They didn't know our name,” said Badger. “But, you made us actually approachable and made it personal to the people of Buffalo.”
Since the spot aired, the duo has been bombarded with requests from people in the community to speak to youth - which is the mission of their non-profit C.O.P.S.S (Children Overcoming Police Stereotype Through Sports).
“This started with a push-up contest that Mike [Norwood] and [Buffalo police officer Todd McAllister] put together,” said Badger. “We saw kids who were literally at risk of going to jail change their life because they built relationships with these gentlemen.”
The reaction to their initiative is so strong, both will visit 7 Buffalo schools this year to hold a forum with students. Often guests attend ranging from Buffalo’s police commissioner Byron Lockwood, to the city mayor Byron Brown.
“Guys that are really heavy in the streets come up and say ‘Hey, we don’t really rock with cops, but we rock with what you guys are doing.’ It’s like wow. so if we can reach people like that - then we know we can reach these kids,” said Norwood.
Norwood, Jr. and Badger have been contacted by producers for nationally syndicated talk shows, including the Ellen DeGeneres Show, where they will appear on an episode airing April 1, 2019.
You can join the officers for a viewing party and to learn more about how to work with their C.O.P.S.S program Monday afternoon at 4pm.
The Oakk Room
1435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY
“Two Buffalo, New York…officers had an opportunity to go on a national platform not only for singing, but to promote our program and our vision,” said Norwood, Jr. “Our goal was to take this program across the country, and the Ellen show gave us the opportunity to do that.”
Today, these officers are not only using their voices not only to set a new tone for police relations in the community - but for a higher purpose, as well.
“Because of something that we do everyday - God saw fit for us to carry this mantle to change the life of youth across the country.”
