In the case of ethnic minority communities, such understanding and response can be precluded by problems associated with lack of trust, communication difficulties, and cultural differences. When a police agency hires police officers from an ethnic group representative of newcomers to that community, it can more easily avoid misunderstandings and dispel fear of crime in the community. The police agency can also increase departmental expertise, the range of personnel resources, and community cooperation. Recruiting and hiring from the newcomer community present a police agency with two key challenges: (1) establishing mutual trust with the new community; and (2) shepherding newcomers through the recruiting, hiring, and training regimen. Variations in police agency selection methods and processes are noted, as well as specific problems that affect selection, hiring, and training and possible solutions. 10 endnotes