By day, Bonney Lake police officer Daron Wolschleger can be found walking the beat. But at night, he IS the beat.

For the past eight years, Wolschleger has been the second percussionist in regional rock outfit The Beatniks and this week, his two worlds come together when the Beatniks play Allan Yorke Park as part of the city’s Tunes at Tapps program, and the unofficial kick off of this year’s Bonney Lake Days celebration.

“It’s great because it’s only a mile from my house,” Wolschleger says with a laugh, adding that he is “really excited” to play this close to home.

While many of his fellow officers have come see him play some of his 800-plus shows with the band, tonight’s show will be the first time The Beatniks have played in the city where he lives and works.

Wolschleger, 36, has been playing drums since he was 8 and played in a few high school and college bands before the opportunity arose to play in the Beatniks back in 2002.

When the band’s original secondary percussionist left, the group’s main drummer, Jon Bolton of Enumclaw, suggested his old middle school and high school friend as a replacement and Wolschleger has been a part of the group ever since.

“It’s honestly a dream come true,” Wolschleger says, but adds with a smile that if he knew he’d be in this band, “I’d have practiced a lot harder when I was younger!”

Wolschleger describes his role as a “utility player,” doing a little bit of everything, from secondary percussion (tambourine, cowbell) to taking over on the kit when Bolton comes out to sing to even take over lead vocals from time to time.

That’s him out there leading the crowd on the band’s cover of “Rock and Roll All Night” by KISS, one of Wolschleger’s favorite bands and biggest influences.

The Beatniks are one of the most popular cover bands in the Pacific Northwest and around the country, playing a mix of popular 60s, 70s and even some 80s rock. Wolschleger says his time with the group has taken him around the country and world, playing in Hawaii and even in front of 15,000 people at the big room at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (for a private, corporate gig). They have even opened for the Beach Boys and the Go-Gos.

“We’ve played some amazing places,” he says.

The band also plays clubs, parties, and tons of outdoor festivals throughout the summer, much like Bonney Lake Days.

“We’re very, very busy in the summer,” he says.

This year, the band will once again play the official Seahawks tailgate party at Qwest Field for this season’s Seahawks home opener Sept. 12. Back before Wolschleger joined, the Beatniks were the house band at the Kingdome. But every couple of years, the band plays the opening tailgate party, a special treat for Wolschleger, a season ticket holder.

“I’m going to get paid to see the game!” he says, grinning.

Whereas the rock and roll lifestyle seems like it might not be conducive to being a police officer by day, Wolschleger says the Beatniks are a “clean band” and adds that one of the guitar players is a prosecutor for several local cities.

But playing rock and roll is something of an escape from being on duty, a great hobby that can help release some of the stress of the day-to-day life of wearing a badge.

“It’s kind of nice to have a little getaway,” he says.

But the real question, of course, is which gig has the better groupies, cops or rock stars?

“I gotta go cops,” Wolschleger says with a broad smile. “The uniform aspect rings true.”