A North Little Rock police officer known for his large social-media following and community outreach was arrested on a charge of third-degree domestic battery after his wife told investigators he struck her during an argument just before midnight Saturday, court records show.
Authorities booked 53-year-old Officer Tommy Norman into the Pulaski County Jail after his wife alleged he hit her on the right side of her chest with the back of his hand, according to an arrest report obtained by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The report said the victim had a slight, visible injury to her chest. Norman was placed on leave while being held in the county jail, records show.
The arrest report quotes Norman as telling officers he was defending himself, saying his wife had been slapping him during the dispute and that he tried to block her. Court records list the charge as third-degree domestic battery.
Norman, a 27-year veteran of the North Little Rock Police Department who has cultivated more than 5 million followers online, has long been known for community policing efforts and charitable work. He was among recipients of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award announced by the White House in November 2021 for volunteerism and police work.
An administrator for Norman’s Facebook page urged followers not to rush to judgment, posting that emotions are running high and asking people to wait for facts while the process runs its course. The administrator said the process does not allow transparency until it is complete.
In previous interviews, Norman has described outreach and visible neighborhood engagement as central to his policing philosophy. After the conviction of Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, he told a local television station that the goal was for police departments and the community to be like a family and that officers should be seen as human beings.
Records indicate Norman was booked into the Pulaski County Jail following the alleged incident. The arrest report and court filings are the basis for the charge; no criminal conviction has been reported. The North Little Rock Police Department placed him on leave pending further investigation, according to jail and court records.
The case will proceed through the local court system, where prosecutors and the victim may file additional documents. Further statements from the police department, Norman or his legal representatives were not immediately available in the records obtained by media outlets.
The arrest adds to public scrutiny of a high-profile law enforcement figure who blended policing, social media influence and public charity work. Investigators and prosecutors will determine whether the evidence supports the charge and whether additional action will follow.