APD Chief McKinley meets Dirty Harry

No, Clint Eastwood was not in town. This Dirty Harry is a dog. While not an actual dog, Harry is nonetheless a famous literary dog.

"Harry the Dirty Dog," is a book written by by Jean Zion and was one of the two books read by Apopka Police Chief Michael McKinley last Saturday morning during the first Cookies and Milk with a Cop event in Apopka.

Cookies and Milk with a Cop is an initiative started by Officer Andrew Raphael of the Winter Garden Police Department last year. The goal is to bring kids and Cops together in a fun and non-traditional environment that builds trust and makes friends.

Cookies and Milk with a Cop is a joint venture between the Apopka Police Department, the Apopka Main Street McDonald's restaurant and the North Orange Branch Library in Apopka.

• APD provides a police officer to read to the children.
• McDonald's provides the cookies and milk.
• The Apopka Library provides a comfortable setting for the event.

The first Cookies and Milk event was a success with about 75 in attendance, according to McDonald's spokesperson, Debra White. "I believe we had 46 children and 30 parents, plus officers and press. We are very happy with the first event - I'm sure numbers will grow as they have in Winter Garden."

The co-sponsors plan to hold monthly Cookies and Milk with a Cop gatherings.

The events will be held at 10:30 AM on the 3rd Saturday of each month at the North Orange Branch Library in Apopka at 1211 East Semoran Boulevard in Apopka.

The next event is scheduled for September 17th. Mark your calendars.