BLYTHE, Calif. — On patrol in eastern Riverside County, it’s hard to miss Deputies Bond and Phipps — mostly because of the stark contrast between them.
Bond stands just 5 feet tall. Phipps is 6 feet 7 inches. Yes, just like the viral “6,7″ phrase.
The unlikely pairing has turned the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office deputies into something of a local curiosity, with residents — and kids especially — doing double takes when the duo steps out of their patrol vehicle, CBS LA reports. One moment they’re talking to Bond, the next they’re craning their necks upward after learning her partner’s height.
“When you’re 5’0 and the kids forget you exist once they hear your partner is 6’7,” the sheriff’s office joked in a recent Facebook post, complete with the hashtags #sixseven and #67.
The post quickly struck a chord online, drawing thousands of reactions and comments poking fun at the dramatic height difference.
Despite their physical contrast, the deputies work seamlessly together. When situations escalate, they already know the plan: Bond handles the legs, Phipps takes the upper body. It’s a system that works — and one they execute without hesitation, CBS LA reports.
Their backgrounds are just as different as their statures. Before joining the sheriff’s office, Bond served as a National Guard counterintelligence agent. Phipps once pitched in the Baltimore Orioles’ minor league system. Today, those experiences come together during long patrol shifts covering one of the largest geographic areas in the department.
While their size difference draws attention, both deputies say the job ultimately comes down to something far less visible.
“It’s a matter of what’s in your heart and are you here for a paycheck or are you here to serve your community,” Bond said.
And if there’s one thing Bond and Phipps agree on, it’s that a sense of humor helps.
“If you take yourself too serious, then it’s too much,” Phipps said.
No matter the size difference, the two deputies have each other’s backs.
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