By Morgan Taylor, Reporter
CAPE CORAL, Florida – Muscogee (Creek) citizen Bobbie Irvin Jr. is an author releasing his first publication, an autobiography called Failure to Comply.
Failure to Comply is the story of Irvin’s life and how he beat the odds as a young adult with a tumultuous childhood.
Irvin is a retired police officer from Kansas City, MO where he grew up.
“I started writing back in 2008,” Irvin said. “I took about three years off and during that time I was contacted by a social worker that was responsible for locating family members for my cousin who was facing capital murder charges. Her job as a defense attorney was to collect information about his life and childhood and what kind of environment he grew up in.”
What was supposed to be a quick phone call, turned into a long conversation between Irvin and the attorney.
“I told her the full story about my upbringing and how my cousin was involved and at the end of the discussion she says, you really should write a book,” Irvin said.
After hearing those words, Irvin was inspired to start his writing.
“The book starts out in my teen years and talks about some of the things I witnessed growing up,” Irvin said. “I was doing drugs, stealing cars, and just hanging out with the wrong people,” Irvin said. “I told myself if I stayed around here I would either end up dead or in prison.”
The book also mentions the relationship between Irvin and his alcoholic, abusive father.
“We spent a lot of time going back and forth to Oklahoma to visit my father which is where I get my [Muscogee] Creek heritage,” Irvin said. “I have a lot of memories of spending summers in Beggs, Oklahoma.”
After graduating high school, Irvin joined the Marine Corps.
“That was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Irvin said. “I got out in four years and was looking for a job. My mom told me about the officer job open. I considered it though I had never thought about law enforcement because I had spent most of my childhood avoiding the police.”
During his service as a police officer in his hometown, Irvin would see many peers and family members come through the justice system leaving him to deal with emotional trauma through the years.
“Sometimes it would be people I grew up with or family members that I would be taking to jail,” Irvin said.
Irvin ended up serving 26 years as a Kansas City Police Officer.
The message Irvin hopes to convey is that no matter the obstacles one faces, they still can make something of themselves.
“Don’t get this idea that just because you come from a poor family or come form the inner-city that’s where you’re going to stay and that’s the lifestyle you’re going to live,” Irvin said.
The book is published by Dorrance Publishing Co. and can be found on www.amazon.com
Irvin claims upcoming ventures on turning his story into a film.
More information can be found at www.Failuretocomply.us
