In the history of many societies, security forces, including the local police, have been viewed with fear and mistrust, because they have wielded their power to repress and control people rather than protect their rights and make them safe. Local police must focus on cultivating an image of service to the public. Part of this police effort must involve becoming familiar with the culture and values of the people they serve. This is particularly important for police who serve diverse ethnic groups with a variety of native languages, ethical values, perceptions of security forces, religious orientations, and behavioral responses. This requires that police be continually educated about the people in the communities they serve. Further, they should be schooled in how their responsibilities as police officers can be best achieved given the characteristics of people in the communities they serve. Such an approach to police training will most likely increase respect for and trust of the police, reduce resistance and antagonism in police interactions with residents, and limit the number of occasions when police must use force. 15 references