Officer Tommy Norman went viral back in May — but not for the reason you might expect.
His public social media accounts are flooded with videos and pictures capturing the police officer interacting with his North Little Rock community — singing, dancing, and often goofing around with neighborhood kids, many of whom he knows by name.
The Arkansas officer has been on the police force for 17 years according to Mic, and tells CNN that his connection with his community has deep implications.
"I want to inspire people — not just other police officers, but people in the community," he told CNN in an interview. "It's a partnership between the police and the community. We have to work together to make our community a safer place, a more peaceful place to live."
And that's why he posts videos and media to his Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook sites, he says. He hopes to "inspire other people to go out and make a difference in their corner of the world."
And little gestures can have big effects, he says. Norman recounted an incident during which a murder suspect requested Officer Norman by name to turn himself in. Norman says that when he asked the man why, the suspect said he'd heard he would be able to turn himself in peacefully and with respect if Norman were present. That incident, he says, is an example of how great policing can make communities better.
Please SHARE his positive message if you agree!
h/t: CNN, Mic, Humankind
