Another DC police officer participates in dance challenge with local kids

WASHINGTON - Another video featuring a D.C. police officer dancing with members of the community has gone viral.

It all happened during a holiday event held by former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis on Monday.

"They had a dance competition with the kids, and I love kids, so I just started dancing with the kids," said Seventh District Officer Ashley Keels. "That's all it was. Just to engage with the children."

The 6-year veteran showcased her moves to DLOW's "Bet You Can't Do It Like Me."

"It's the newest dance," she said. "It's kind of like the Whip and Nae Nae, but they added more moves to it."

Keels grew up in Northeast D.C. and attended Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She said music is a great way to help bridge the gap between police and the community.

"Music in general is something that brings everyone together," Keels said. "I think there is no song that doesn't bring a whole community, genre, race or ethnicity together. So I believe music is something basically a boundary anybody can cross and children love to dance.

"I think that by me dancing with the kids, that 5-year-old that you dance with today, that 15-year-old will give you respect tomorrow. I believe that anything that you do throughout your career just basically sets you up to be able to have more respect or just be able to engage people better."

This dance competition comes almost a month after a viral video showcased another D.C. police officer participating in a dance-off with a high school student that helped calm tensions in the aftermath of a fight between two groups of teenagers.

"I think everything that's going on in the community now, some have forgotten that we still are human," said Keels. "I think it's able to give the community that human aspect that we love to have fun too. We can still get down a little bit."

Officer Keels said she has been staying up to date with the latest dance moves from her nieces and nephews. But will she teach these smooth moves to her boss -- Police Chief Cathy Lanier?

"I'm going to show her the moves later on, but we'll see if she can get it -- if she wants to do it with me," Keels said smiling.