Abstract
This case study examines the development and implementation of the Building Mutual Respect and Community Trust (BMRCT) police training program, which has trained more than 1,500 police officers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan since its inception in 2015. The program was developed in response to heightened tensions between police and communities following high-profile incidents in Cleveland, Ohio. Its goal was to improve relationships between police and the communities they served while enhancing officer safety. Designed by an interdisciplinary team with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), adult learning, and policing, the training emphasized community engagement and the principles of andragogy to foster improved police-community relations. This case study highlights reflective insights from trainers, a retired police officer, a government liaison, and a research associate, exploring the alignment of the training with Knowles's andragogical process elements, including diagnosing needs, setting the learning objectives through mutual planning, fostering a positive learning climate to prepare the learners, designing a relevant learning plan and learning activities, and conducting iterative evaluation.