Internet sensation, Chief David A. Oliver of the Brimfield Police Department visited the Downtown Akron Public Library on Monday, October 21.
When Chief Oliver began posting to the department’s Facebook page years ago his goal was to reach 500 people. He never imagined his page would become the second ranked police station in the nation on Facebook in “likes” or that the page would reach 90,000 this week.
The attention the site has received led to a book, “No Mopes Allowed,” and while there have been several offers for reality shows and film, Chief Oliver and the department are not looking to dip their feet into the waters of Hollywood.
“The book was a stretch, to be honest,” Chief Oliver said.
The proceeds from the book go fund children’s events put on by the police department as well as to the Chief Oliver Foundation which funds activities in the arts for child victims of sexual abuse.
The Facebook page is filled with not only the chief’s humor but information about events in the community, issues with traffic, weather reports and several happy birthdays.
“We are, for the most part, 80 percent of the time, having fun,” Oliver said. “With the temperature as it is today, people are looking for a government official who is going to tell the truth… and just say look, this is how it is, sorry; or this is how it is and it’s going to be ok.”
“No Mopes Allowed” is available at the Library Shop at Main Library in downtown Akron, as well as other local book stores. You can also download a Kindle version online or through iTunes.