Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education to Host 'A Conversation with Officer Tommy Norman'

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He's a social media sensation who comes with a badge.

The Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education presents "A Conversation with Officer Tommy Norman" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Donald D. Reynolds Center for Enterprise and Development. The public is invited to attend, but seating is limited.

The North Little Rock police officer will discuss his hands-on approach to community policing, which has garnered national attention. His campaign of active citizenship is to change how people view the police through social media, with a constant stream of videos, photos and inspirational words of advice.

"The importance of positive policing is just we're all in this together," he explained in an article for XXL Magazine. "We are police officers, but more than that, we are human beings. We're no better than the next person, it just so happens we have a job of a police officer of authority." Norman continued, "Just because we have a job of authority, doesn't mean we can't go out and form relationships and be your friend."

He made his remarks after rap musician, The Game and his son, Harlem, helped raise over $70,000 dollars through a GoFundMe online campaign. Norman will use the money to continue providing school supplies, snacks and clothing for children in need, as he patrols in some of the toughest neighborhoods in North Little Rock.

His active citizenship can be seen daily on his Instagram account, where he has more than 1.2 million followers.

The Game made the donation at the urging of his son. On his Facebook page, the rapper describes Norman as a "good cop (who) is going the extra mile for a lot of young African American children."

Norman can be seen on social media dancing, delivering backpacks and giving hugs or fist-bumps. It's all in a day's work for this decorated law enforcement officer, who is affectionately known as "Officer Friendly" around the department.

His inspiration came as a child, when a police officer on patrol stopped in his neighborhood and took a few moments to ask Norman and his playmates how they were doing. He said that moment will forever stick in his mind. Norman not only exhibits that same interest on his beat, but he magnifies it, as he builds relationships based on trust and respect.

"Officer Norman models compassion through culturally thoughtful communication and caring service," said Leslie Yingling, Director of the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education at the University of Arkansas. "Expanding our circles of concern can help all of our communities feel safe and protected."

From looking at the images on social media, it's clear Norman is invested in the neighborhoods he patrols and they are invested in him. He is changing the narrative of policing in America one relationship at a time and in the process, he is changing lives. This is one police officer that is going viral for all the right reasons.

"A Conversation with Officer Tommy Norman" is part of Diverse Perspectives, a programmatic dialogue series focused on engaging students, staff, faculty, and community members in meaningful conversations about issues of diversity and inclusion from the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education.