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Cop Takes the Mic for 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

A woman in a black tactical vest sings into a microphone at an outdoor event with spectators.

When most people think of American baseball games, they remember the snacks, the hot dogs and the game. But for many Americans, one of the most important traditions is the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

A woman singing at an outdoor event in a stadium-like setting with a crowd of spectators wearing summer attire, under bright daylight.

So, when baseball enthusiasts gathered at the Surprise Stadium in the town of Surprise, Arizona, they were shocked when a police officer stepped up to the microphone at the beginning of the game.

Dressed in her full police uniform with her pistol, handcuffs and gadgets on her belt, she cut an intimidating figure in the center of the field. Then, she caught everyone off guard by singing.

An adult female singer in a police uniform performs into a microphone at an outdoor stadium event, accompanied by several male officers in similar uniforms and another man in casual attire.

For people who might be wondering how this town in Arizona ended up with such a strange name, Surprise owes its namesake to its founder, Flora Mae Statler. In 1938, she formed the one-square-mile town.

Since those humble early days, Surprise grew to 108 square miles with a population of 130,000 residents. The government of Arizona officially incorporated it as a city in 1960.

Adult female police officer singing at a public event with an audience behind a netted barrier, outdoors during daytime.

Thanks to Officer Tanya Keplinger, Surprise, Arizona now had another feature to mark it as a special place on the map. Her voice was smooth, bringing an earthy song to what is often a theatrical song.

Even after a minor technical glitch with the microphone, Officer Tanya Keplinger showed how strongly she felt about her country and city. Listen to her performance, and you will hear how earnest she was.