ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton left a legacy in the Central Florida community after she was killed in the line of duty. Her legacy continues through her work as an author.
Clayton, known for her work with Orlando youth groups, wrote a book addressing the social issues between the community and law enforcement, but she died before her secret project could be published.
The book, called "Bridging the Gap Between Law Enforcement and the Community," was a passion of Clayton's that she completed right before she died after 17 years on the Orlando police force.
Clayton wrote the book "to provide law enforcement personnel with the tools to have a lasting career policing the community without bias," according to the Ty Media website.
News 6 reporter Nadeen Yanes spoke with the Clayton's publisher, Ty Young, about the importance of releasing the book posthumously.
Young said the story embodies who Clayton was as an activist, mother and wife.
"She embodied bridging the gap between officers and the community," Young said. "She loved both sides. She was torn between the two, but because the love was so deep, she was able to tap into what each side needed to actually come together."
Clayton's legacy will soon live on in her own words.
The book, now being printed, is available for pre-order at leocunity.org for $19.95.
"It's so sad that i can't hand it to her," Young said. "I want to put it in her hands and see that big smile."
Young said she expected to have a copy in her hands by Thursday.
"I pray that her legacy lives on where we are able to share her gifts with the community and law enforcement," Young said. "We just have a huge gap, and that was her purpose, filling that gap."