While the nation’s schools are shuttered and students have been learning lessons virtually, many school resource officers (SROs) have been doing “book reads” online, keeping in touch with the youngsters. But no cop is going to read throughout an entire eight-, 10- or 12-hour shift; most have been reassigned to patrol duties.

In South Portland, Maine, one of the SROs now on patrol decided to do a ditty pertaining to our uninvited COVID guest and all its potential cooties. In that regard, South Portland police Officer Al Giusto put together (wrote, produced, and sang) a mini mobile concert and belted out the blues by singing healthy “reminders” to help thwart COVID contagion.

This is what happens when you put the school resource officer back on Patrol…..Disinfectant Blues was written, produced, & sang by Officer Al Giusto. #police #socialdistancing #ilovethebeat #dontdodrugs #disinfectant #blues #baritone

Posted by South Portland (Maine) Police Department on Sunday, April 26, 2020

Incidentally, the conclusion where he reaches for his mic and speaks the code “10-7” is police nomenclature which translates to “done with assignment” or “out of service,” in this case “song over.”

Perhaps there is some strange coincidence or an untapped talent pool of Maine-based cops. In April 2020, I wrote about SROs, the COVID-caused impromptu off-season, and what campus cops were doing in the interim. Of particular note, an East Providence policeman whose assignment as a school resource officer was reconfigured to work with the patrol division found a melodious compromise. Officer Doug Borden seems skilled with a saxophone, and along his beat he has been stopping and filling the open air with some notes for citizens to listen to…essentially telegraphing that things are gonna be alright, albeit from a decent social distance (for now).

Cops can be a resourceful bunch, especially in the face of a cloaked killer like COVID. These are just two examples. Know of any cops who possess musical talents and took it on the road?