HALIFAX — The Halifax police officer who became a viral sensation last week has picked a winner from dozens of memes spawned by the photo of him chatting casually with a busker.
A photo of Const. Shawn Currie sitting on the sidewalk with the street performer got hundreds of reactions and shares last week - and captured the imaginations of social media users over the weekend.
After scrolling through photos of him cropped and digitally inserted into movie moments, famous paintings and video games, Currie awarded a signed travel mug to a Twitter user identified only as "Swiggy" for her homage to a Miley Cyrus music video.
Currie says he's glad to see people using social media to highlight the positive role officers play in their communities.
A communications adviser for Halifax Regional Police says the Twitter contest is part of a years-long strategy to reveal the human side of policing through technology.
Lauren Leal says getting officers on board with the force's social media goals can be challenging because many don't want to be recognized for something they feel is just a normal part of their job.
