Officer Andrae Kirk, of the Coral Springs Police Department and a former NFL player, is breaking new ground as a children's book author with his debut book "Officer Friendly". According to WSVN, Kirk read the book to a young audience during Family Day at the Coral Springs Museum of Art, an event that aimed to strengthen the relationship between children and first responders. Kirk, who previously played as a linebacker for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, has taken his community role a step further by not just patrolling the streets but also engaging with the youngest members through storytelling and mentorship, he advocated for children to "chase their dreams."
Kirk's book was introduced to the public at the museum located at 2855A Coral Springs Dr., where the event featured arts and crafts, interactive activities, and concluded with Kirk's reading session at 3:30 p.m. Families were encouraged to RSVP via a Facebook post by commenting "Book". The Coral Springs Talk reports that the book aims to redefine perceptions of law enforcement, showing officers in a positive light and as figures of protection and friendship, the department as a whole endorsing the event as an opportunity for fostering closer community ties.
Copies of "Officer Friendly" were available for purchase at the event, and the officer-turned-author was also there for book signings after the storytelling hour. Admission to the museum-based Family Day was free of charge and the department promoted the event as a relaxed afternoon filled with creativity and community bonding. Kirk's mission, as stated in the book’s promotional material, is to convey a powerful message to the youth: “This book shares a powerful message – that our officers are not to be feared but seen as role models and friends,” as noted by Coral Springs Talk.
Following a career in professional sports, Kirk completed his education in criminal justice and public administration at Florida Atlantic University before joining the CSPD, his public service trajectory is illuminating the path not just on the streets but also in the educational and emotional realms of the city's youth, as noted in a video about his newly minted authorial role, he expressed just how much writing the book meant to him, "This feels like something that is a big deal to me," in a sentiment he shared with the public, as obtained by Coral Springs Talk.
