When Officer Christopher Martinez traded the Empire State for sunshine and swamps, he did not expect to wrangle a "perp" with scales and a long tail, which is what happened when he responded to his first alligator nuisance call.
Martinez joined the Largo Police Department in November, having transferred from New York.
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WATCH HEREDecked out in blue latex gloves, Martinez approached the wriggling gator like a rookie on his first stakeout. He paused, took a deep breath, and muttered to the reptile, "You have big teeth; I have tiny fingers."
His fellow officers, seasoned Florida gator handlers, cheered him on with gentle reminders like, "Don't drop him," and "He's so cute."
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SIGN UP Just as Martinez gingerly took the alligator from a colleague, the critter flailed its tail and let out a hiss. Cue the high-pitched "Ahhhh…Oh my God!"' followed by many frightened squeals and jumps.
Nevertheless, in true heroic form, he stuck it out to get that photo shot.
"Take a picture of me, for the love of God," Martinez said as he struck a pose and smiled a nervous grin for the camera.
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The video has since racked up over 2 million views, and the Largo Police Department could not resist calling it their "official welcome to Florida."
