The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recently partnered with the Ithlokomeleng Batho Rehabilitation Centre (IBRC), a South African–based nongovernmental organization, to deliver a first-of-its-kind virtual training series on community policing for police officials based in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.

The practice of community policing continues to develop globally as agencies recognize the value of integrating police officers with the communities they serve. Community policing is rooted in the principles established by Sir Robert Peel, who served twice as the British Prime Minister in the 1800s and is widely regarded as the father of modern policing. Sir Robert Peel’s principles emphasize public trust, partnership, and shared responsibility for safety, which remain the cornerstones of democratic policing worldwide. Peelian principles support strong partnerships between police and the community as essential. Community policing extends beyond a solely reactive approach to crime. It emphasizes a collaborative partnership between officers and community members to proactively identify and address issues that impact public safety. This approach prioritizes building trust, preventing crime, transforming organizations, and addressing the root causes of crime.

Community policing remains a critical topic globally due to its emphasis on trust, legitimacy, and shared responsibility for safety. These principles are especially important in regions navigating rapid urbanization, shifting youth demographics, and evolving security challenges. Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa each face distinct public safety dynamics, yet all three countries are working to strengthen relationships between police and communities in the pursuit of long-term stability.

A Virtual Three-Part Training Series

Through collaborations with leaders from U.S. agencies with robust community policing practices, pilot trainings were organized by the IACP with assistance from the IBRC from March to April 2025. With positive feedback from the pilot training sessions, three training webinars were conducted via Zoom. Presenters, drawing on Peelian Principles and decades of practical experience, offered insights on how these philosophies have shaped modern policing models in the United States. Although Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa each have distinct local contexts, the initiative aimed to share general best practices, providing partners with a foundation to adapt and implement community policing within their own parameters.

The IACP Global Policing team identified three presenters, each chosen to lead a discussion on one of three key topics. Retired Commissioner John M. Harrington of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety delivered the first part of the training series. His presentation titled “Community Policing in the U.S.: History and Challenges” provided African partners with a comprehensive overview of how the practice of community policing started and continues to develop in the United States. Commissioner Harrington highlighted the principles of Sir Robert Peel as foundational to the modern practice of community policing. Peelian principles underline that police authority is rooted in public approval, officers are members of the public, and policing should center on service rather than repression. As early as the 19th century, Sir Robert Peel’s idea that “the police are the public, and the public are the police” encourages integration between an agency and their communities. This overturned the perception of police as an external authority and affirmed their role as part of the collective, united in the pursuit of a common good.

During the second part of the training series, Chief James Franklin of the Rochester, Minnesota, Police Department shared insights on his agency’s Safe City Nights program, an initiative launched in 2019 that continues to receive widely positive feedback. The Safe City Nights program seeks to build and strengthen the relationship between officers and the community members through the organization of social activities. Chief Franklin is a strong proponent of the 21st century policing leadership approach, which centers on relational policing that favors community engagement and organizational initiatives. The program includes first responders and public safety partners, including city departments, all furthering a safety message promoted during the summer months. Based on Chief Franklin’s data, attendance has shown an upward trend, surpassing 5,400 participants and garnering positive community feedback. Additionally, the Rochester Police Department organizes several other initiatives, including the Lights On! program, which provides motorists with vouchers to cover the cost of replacing a headlight, taillight, or turn signal as opposed to outright penalization.

To close the three-part series, Chief Jack Cauley of the Castle Rock, Colorado, Police Department presented the One-by-One policing model, which highlighted the human aspect of policing and the value of individual connections. Central to Chief Cauley’s message was the difference between having an organizational culture that is “by default” or “by design.” He urged police leaders to take ownership of building a culture that moves away from favoritism, internal competition, quota-driven pressure, and rigid top-down leadership. He also cautioned on having an organization that is driven merely by metrics and sidesteps its primary purpose, which is to serve the community. Chief Cauley’s One-by-One policing model operationalizes one-on-one connections through community projects like Dirt Jumps and Donuts, where local officers meet bikers at parks for casual riding sessions and provide free donuts to foster positive community relations. The Castle Rock Police Department also launched the RUOK? (Are You Okay?) program, which provides free, regular check-ins for senior citizens over 65 years old and disabled individuals living alone to ensure their safety and identify any needs. With Castle Rock’s growing senior population, Chief Cauley says this is the perfect moment to strengthen outreach and support for this vulnerable community.

The Way Forward

As communities evolve, shaped by digital communications, artificial intelligence, and economic and political challenges, policing practices must also evolve in parallel. Agencies that fail to adapt run the risk of alienating their officers from the very communities they are called to serve. Noting the importance of this topic, the IACP has made the training webinars available on the IACPlearn platform at no cost for the benefit of the global policing community. The IACP also encourages engagement with its Community Policing Committee with a mandate to define the practice of community policing, set standards, develop model policies and training, support research, connect experts, highlight successful agencies, and strengthen partnerships to improve collaboration in the field. The IACP also has numerous resources available on the topic of community-
police engagement to supplement interactive activities, such as the innovative trainings conducted with partners in Africa. The information shared in this training series offered foundations and insights to African partners on how police agencies in the United States create programs designed to bridge these gaps and create familiarity that is centered on the overarching purpose of community service. While local contexts in Africa are highly varied, the IACP’s global membership strives to create a forum for police leaders to learn from each other and share foundational knowledge. By embracing innovation and maintaining an open-minded and collaborative approach, police leaders can equip themselves and their agencies with the right tools to address the challenges of today and tomorrow.d

Please cite as:

Kyle Ta-ay, “Building Global Partnerships for Safer Communities,” IACP@Work, Police Chief 93, no. 4 (April 2026): 106–107.