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When you think of school security officers, you might picture someone serious, maybe even a little intimidating — definitely not someone who moonlights as a children’s book author.
Eugene “Chicago” Turner flips that script. By day, he’s a friendly, familiar face patrolling the halls and keeping students safe. By night, he’s crafting colorful pages full of safety tips and life lessons in his new children’s book “Officer Chicago’s Dos and Don’ts.”
Branch Herald writer Rese Van Noy-Smith had the pleasure of sitting down with Officer Turner to chat about how his career in school security led to a creative side hustle — and how his own son got roped in, too.
“I remember when I was in elementary school,” Turner begins with a smile. “We had this security officer known as ‘Officer Friendly.’ He’d come around and talk to us about things like stranger danger and how to stay safe.”
That early influence stuck with him. Years later, when Turner started working in an elementary school himself, Turner noticed something. “I’d see students not really knowing what to do in certain situations. I felt like they needed a fun, approachable way to understand safety — how to take care of themselves and look out for each other.” So he grabbed a notebook and started writing down ideas. A few scribbles and a lot of heart later, his first book was born.
However, Turner didn’t unleash his creative side alone.
The illustrations for “Officer Chicago’s Dos and Don’ts” were handled by none other than his son. “He’s always been into illustration and art,” Turner said. “So I thought, why not bring him on board? It’s been a really good experience working together. We collaborated on the designs and it just kind of came to life.”
Turner is clear about what he wants young readers to take away from his book.
“I want kids to know it’s okay to speak up. If they see something, they should feel comfortable telling someone. And I want them to understand that security officers—we’re here to help, not to scare them.”
He hopes his book will bridge the gap between students and school staff, making conversations about safety less intimidating and more engaging.
Turns out, this is just the beginning. Turner said he has a second book already in the works.
“This one’s for the older kids — mostly high schoolers,” he said. “It’s got more of my personal stories and situations I’ve been through. I want to give them real-life scenarios and show them that making good choices really matters.”
Book Two may shape up to be a mix of memoir and motivation — with a healthy dose of “don’t try this at home” wisdom.
As for publication? It’s all happening.
“They’re just cleaning up the illustrations right now,” Turner said. “We’ve got the title and everything ready. The whole process has been a lot of fun.”
“Officer Chicago’s Dos and Don’ts” may soon make its way into local elementary schools, helping young students learn safety tips straight from someone they already know and trust.
To wrap things up, Turner was asked to sum up his book in three words. He grinned and replied without hesitation: “Fun. Honest. True.” If you ask this writer, what more could you want from a book about school safety? Personally, I’ll keep my eye out for a copy of my own.
