By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- California Highway Patrol Officer Anthony Talavera, a public information officer, performed a road-safety rap on Los Angeles radio station Power 106 that went viral.
- The attention led to an appearance on FOX 11’s “Good Day LA,” where he performed new verses focused on school zone safety.
- Talavera said he worked in the music industry, mainly audio engineering, before joining CHP and has made music since age 16.
- He joined the Highway Patrol at 29, after a CHP officer helped his girlfriend following a serious car crash.
- Talavera said colleagues encouraged him to do the Power 106 performance.
LOS ANGELES — A California Highway Patrol public information officer who delivered a road-safety message through rap on a local radio station has drawn wide attention online, leading to a television appearance this week.
Officer Anthony Talavera performed on Power 106, with lyrics centered on highway safety and the CHP’s role in assisting motorists. The performance went viral and prompted an invitation to appear on FOX 11’s “Good Day LA,” where he told anchors he enjoys a range of music, including hip-hop, R&B, rock and country.
During the TV segment, Talavera performed new verses written for the interview, this time about school zone safety. The verses reminded drivers to slow down, keep to the 25 mph limit or lower and put down their phones.
Talavera said the radio opportunity came through a fellow public information officer who had a connection at the station. He said he values the PIO role because it lets him interact with the public and show that officers are people first. “I’m still human — just like everybody else,” Talavera said.
On the CHP’s official podcast, “Behind the Badge,” Talavera said he began making music at 16 and worked in the music industry before joining the Highway Patrol at 29. He said he had never planned to become a police officer, but was inspired to apply after a CHP officer assisted his girlfriend following a difficult crash. He credited his fellow officers with encouraging him to perform on Power 106, saying he might not have done it otherwise.