A spontaneous musical moment following a police arrest has captured hearts across social media after a Northern California officer picked up a recovered ukulele and began strumming “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” The unexpected performance has given viewers a glimpse into the personal side of those who serve in law enforcement.
Officer Marc Guillermo of the Rocklin Police Department discovered the ukulele among items collected during an arrest. Drawing on his Hawaiian heritage and musical background, the officer couldn’t resist playing the instrument, which his partner captured on video. The footage quickly gained widespread attention online.
A connection to Hawaiian roots
Officer Guillermo, who has served with the Rocklin Police Department for nearly three years, learned to play the instrument through self-teaching methods. “I taught myself on YouTube how to play the ukulele. Just being from Hawaii, that’s in our nature. My family they play and sing, we come from a musical family,” Officer Marc Guillermo said.
The Hawaii native explained that his musical inclinations are deeply rooted in his cultural background, with music being a family tradition passed down through generations.
Humanizing the badge
The viral moment came as an unexpected surprise to Guillermo, who describes himself as generally reserved. However, he welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate that law enforcement officers are multifaceted individuals with lives and interests beyond their uniforms.
“Law enforcement right now is a tough career but just know, you know, we are fathers, we are sons, or mothers or daughters, and we would take a bullet for you or your family any day, and you know I take pride in it. I enjoy working for the Rocklin Police Department,” he said.
The officer expressed gratitude that the unexpected video allowed him to share both his passion for music and his cultural heritage with the broader community, creating a moment of connection during challenging times for law enforcement personnel nationwide.
