It's a side of New York City police officers the public rarely sees: cops rocking out.

"We have members of every race, religion, color and creed in our band," says Detective Amy Pape, the assistant director of the NYPD Jazz Band. "We play music from funk to standard Sousa marches to pop music."

The Jazz Band was formed in 2005, a funky subset of the 100-member police marching band for members who wanted to play other kinds of music. 

They started with jazz, but eight years ago they expanded to rock, soul and other music genres. 

There are 30 officers in the band. Many of them grew up loving to perform. 

"Putting on shows in front of my stuffed animals and my cousins and making everyone listen to me," says Officer Heather Austin, a member of the band.

"I've been hearing 'Shut up, Shynell' all my life because I would sing for everything. I would sing songs in responses to my mom," says Officer Shynell Parris-Mitchell, a member of the band.

Some studied music and theater in high school and college. Others are self-taught. 

"I had no idea when I decided to become a police officer that I would be able to sing and be a police officer at the same time," Austin says.

"It's not just, 'Hey, those cops can kind of play their instruments.' It's, 'Man, those guys can play, whether they're cops or not,'" says Officer Christopher Alese, a member of the band.

They perform about 150 times a year, at NYPD ceremonies, retirement parties and community events. 

"Our whole mission is to show the public we are exactly like them," Pape says.

The band is so good, they travel the country and the world representing the NYPD. 

And yes. they perform while wearing their guns because they’re real officers, not just entertainers. 

"I'm a patrol officer in sector Charlie in the 5-0," Parris-Mitchell says.

"Today, I actually started my assignment here with the band and then actually had a notification for traffic court," Alese says.