NEW YORK — The Latin sound of horns blaring, drums beating and piano riffs has the crowd hitting the dance floor. The people moving the crowd are actually police officers from the NYPD’s La Jara Band working to bring cops and Hispanic communities together.

“As an NYPD officer that was one of my biggest goals and it’s an accomplishment for me and the band,” explained Captain Alexander Cedillo.

Yes, they patrol the streets and enforce the law, but they say it’s also important to help grow and improve relationships in the community. And what better way to do that than through the universal language of music.

The band performs at numerous police and community events across the city showcasing their musical talents.

“Instead of through acts of services you are now doing it through acts of musicianship," said NYPD officer Charles Powell.

Cedillo added it’s important to be able to relate to all members of the Hispanic and Latinx communities.

“We play merengue, salsa, bachata, tipico, bolero, just numerous beautiful genres," he noted.

The NYPD has several other bands. Captain Cedillo who is Ecuadorian thought it was important to form La Jara. The band came together in 2013.

La Jara is a Puerto Rican slang word for police. Officers from various Hispanic and Latin countries make up the band. This is a dream come true for Captain Cedillo who grew up wanting to be a musician.

“Thank God gave me the opportunity to do both," he said. "So now I can be a police officer and also serve through music.”

Officer Charles Powell is the the only non-Hispanic in the band, but that’s not a problem at all.

“Even before I was in La Jara, I played professionally in salsa, I was a salsa dancer instructor,” said Powell.

The officers say their dancing and singing to the Latin beat shows they are from the communities they serve.