These days, being a cop is a challenging job. Along with the usual stresses police officers face, there’s the public image, the bad actors, and all the complexities the role involves. A global movement is underway, and police departments are a significant part of it.
This is where an officer like Tommy Norman comes in. He’s been actively making connections with the community, helping out, shaking hands, and sharing these moments on his Instagram page.
I started following him a few weeks ago and watched his follower count climb from about 500,000 to over one million in just a matter of days. That’s impressive! It shows that people genuinely value good officers and want to see more of what Officer Norman is doing. The community wants to see policing that builds trust and meaningful relationships.
My friends over at LESM Law Enforcement Social Media Podcast have also been working to connect with the community. Officer Mike Bires, Sgt Marc Marty, Officer Arlen Castillo, Deputy Tony Moore, Officer Patrick Fitzgibbon, and Officer Alan Weinreb host a show discussing all aspects of social media and law enforcement. They focus on online safety and policing practices.
They also host a separate show called “Talk to A Cop,” where community members can come online and ask questions. Most of these conversations are respectful, though sometimes there are people who want to raise a challenge. But that’s part of life. These are dedicated folks working to bridge the gap between law enforcement and civilians.
During times like these, people like these will make a difference. Cops are human too — they are our siblings, parents, and friends. These times are tough, but I believe people like this can be the change that’s needed.
As Officer Norman says, it all begins with relationships.
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