ICE Training Contractor Involved in Four Fatal Shootings

David S. Norman, founder of law enforcement training firm TruKinetics LLC, testified in a 2021 deposition that he was involved in at least four lethal shootings during his time as a Phoenix police officer. Norman served with the Phoenix Police Department from the late 1990s until his retirement in 2020.

Records show he participated in six shootings that left four people dead and two wounded. In each case, the department stated Norman fired on an armed suspect.

TruKinetics received $27,748 for a year-long contract to conduct a mandatory 40-hour training course for certain Department of Homeland Security Special Response Team members at Fort Benning, Georgia. At least 700 SRT agents from Customs and Border Protection and ICE units attend annual training at the facility.

He said the courses covered small-team tactics and close-quarters combat but did not include crowd control or active shooter scenarios.

In a 2021 law enforcement podcast, Norman described himself as "a fucking savage" and said he sought out high-risk experiences. He also appeared to joke about the timing of police shootings. Phoenix police records indicate Norman received solid performance ratings and department commendations.

The four fatal shootings were deemed in policy by both the local district attorney and the department. A 2024 Department of Justice findings report identified a pattern of violent, unconstitutional policing by Phoenix police, including unjustified uses of lethal force.