One of the best uses of social media—some would say its only good use—can be to quickly and efficiently alert and educate the public in order to keep community members safe. Government agencies have found it can be an effective tool to keep the citizenry updated about missing children, impending severe weather, upcoming events and other information.
Police departments have especially found social media useful in spreading the word about arrests made and lawbreakers on the loose, as well as offering tips on how to avoid scams and warnings about distracted driving. But getting the public's attention to listen to eat their vegetables when they're presented with a seemingly endless internet buffet of empty-calorie desserts can be a challenge.
Sometimes those practical posts need a dash of seasoning, though. Or, in the case of some police departments passing along Halloween safety tips, a bit of blood and guts. Figuratively speaking.
Here's a look at some of the creative touches law enforcement agencies have added to their annual videos on Halloween safety tips. Better get your popcorn.
Mount Vernon, Washington, Police Department (above)
Horror movie it's most like: The Sixth Sense.
Best big-screen moments: The ghost—and the "ghost" effect—is a nice touch. And when it comes to filmmaking, black and white = art.
What should the sequel about holiday season safety tips be about? The officers return as the Ghost of Christmas Scams Future and Ebeneezer Scrooge shopping for Tiny Tim to warn people against phishing and other online traps during the season.
Brevard County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
Horror movie it's most like: Oh, you think it's Deadpool and Wolverine? Wrong! We're getting big Nightmare on Elm Street vibes from this fever dream of a video with a smart mouth dressed in red as the lead.
Best big-screen moment: Top-notch costumes, a classic needle drop, fight and dance choreography … What moment isn't a big-screen moment? This video has better production values than some recent superhero movies.
What should the sequel about holiday season safety tips be about? This video is actually a sequel, with a call back to the agency's homage to "Thriller" last Halloween.
Palm Bay, Florida, Police Department
Horror movie it's most like: Scream. Starts by pointing out all the corny conventions of haunted houses in a haunted house before the scares kick in.
Best big-screen moment: That's some nifty GoPro camera work as the officer works his way through the haunted house. Shades of a scene from Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets?
What should the sequel about holiday season safety tips be about? The stakes need to be higher in a sequel, and there's nothing scarier than large Black Friday crowds. Use the camera again to get in the officer's face as he tries to navigate a throng of retail shoppers to pick up a Nintendo Switch for Junior without getting his wallet and cellphone lifted.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, Police Department
Horror movie it's most like: The Young Frankenstein of police PSAs.
Best big-screen moment: The acting. "Dan" has to act out the safety tips and do it all in a comical manner, while the dog he shares the screen gives such a stiff performance. This is exactly why W.C. Fields said never to work with kids and animals.
What should the sequel about holiday season safety tips be about? Just a sequel? "Dan" could the character find of 2024. Think movies, streaming series, video games, computer-aided dispatch systems. Dan could be the next The Walking Dead. Fear the walking Dan.
Romeoville, Illinois, Police Department
Horror movie it's most like: Beetlej— Uh-uh, we're not going to fall for that this time. The video warned us about copyright infringement.1 So let's just call it Boorish Bio-Exorcist in Black and White? Two-Tone Spectral Gadfly? David S. Pumpkins if He Was Played by Michael Keaton?
Best big-screen moment: The special effects have a little bit of personality and has the same feel of That Movie Whose Name We Shall Not Mention.2
What should the sequel about holiday season safety tips be about? We already told you we're not going to trick us into copyright infringing by saying his name!3
Know a law enforcement agency's Halloween safety video that has a frightening level of creativity? Share a link in the comments section or email [email protected]. We might feature it in a future article.
1 We know saying the character's name or the title of the movie isn't copyright infrigement. Don't email us.
2 Again, we know this isn't copyright infrigement. If we thought it was, why would we use David S. Pumpkin's name?
3 Seriously, we know it's not copyright infringement! It's a joke! We're doing a bit! We are, however, deathly afraid of saying the B-word three times out loud.
