Incident Report: Arrest of Law Enforcement Officer and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Incident Summary

A law enforcement officer in North Little Rock, Arkansas, has been arrested in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident. The event is currently under investigation by local authorities and the officer’s employing department.

2.0 Subject Information

• Name: Tommy Norman
• Affiliation: North Little Rock Police Department
• Tenure: 27 years of service

3.0 Legal and Administrative Status

1. Criminal Charges: The subject has been charged with one count of Domestic Battery in the 3rd Degree.
2. Detention Status: The subject is being held without bond at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.
3. Employment Status: In accordance with departmental policy, the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the judicial process and a concurrent internal investigation.

4.0 Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This incident directly relates to several key targets within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those concerning violence, gender equality, and institutional integrity.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The charge of domestic battery is a direct challenge to the objectives of SDG 5. Specifically, it undermines Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. Addressing such incidents through the legal system is a critical step toward achieving this goal.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The handling of this case is a significant indicator of progress toward SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provides access to justice for all, and builds effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

  1. Target 16.1: The incident itself represents a form of violence that this target aims to “significantly reduce everywhere.”
  2. Target 16.3: The arrest and charging of a law enforcement officer demonstrate a commitment to “promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all,” reinforcing the principle that no individual is above the law.
  3. Target 16.6: The North Little Rock Police Department’s action of placing the officer on administrative leave and initiating an internal investigation is a direct application of the call to “develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions.” This procedural response is essential for maintaining public trust and institutional integrity.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is directly relevant as the article discusses a “domestic violence incident” and a charge of “Domestic Battery.” Domestic violence is a form of gender-based violence, which SDG 5 aims to eliminate.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article highlights the response of the justice system to a crime. It mentions a police officer being arrested, held in a detention facility, and facing a “judicial process and an internal investigation.” This connects to SDG 16’s focus on promoting the rule of law, ensuring equal access to justice, and building effective, accountable institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

   The article’s central theme is an arrest for a “domestic violence incident,” specifically “Domestic Battery in the 3rd Degree.” This directly aligns with the target of eliminating violence, particularly in the private sphere (domestic setting).

2. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The act of “Domestic Battery” is a specific form of violence that this target aims to reduce. The legal action taken against the alleged perpetrator is a mechanism for addressing and deterring such violence.

3. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   The article demonstrates the rule of law in action. A police officer, a member of the law enforcement institution, is not above the law. His arrest, charge, and the pending “judicial process” show that the justice system is being applied, supporting the principle of equal access to justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 5.2 (Indicator 5.2.1)

  The article does not provide statistics, but the specific event—a “domestic violence incident”—is a data point that would contribute to Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner. The charge of “Domestic Battery” is a recorded instance of such violence.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.1 (Indicator 16.1.3)

  Similarly, the incident described is an example that would be measured by Indicator 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence in the previous 12 months. The arrest and charge formalize the incident for statistical tracking.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.3 (Indicator 16.3.2)

  The statement that Officer Norman is “being held without bond at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility” relates to Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population. His status as a detainee awaiting the “judicial process” is a measurable component of how the justice system operates.

4. Summary Table of Findings

Source: katv.com