WALDORF, Md. (WUSA9) -- It's rare for police training to come out of the academy classroom or off the firing range.
But on Friday, Charles County command officers for the first time were put in a banquet hall with members of the public to be trained face to face with community members.
"We are trying to learn from national incidents," Sheriff Troy Berry, the first African-American elected sheriff in the county's 356-year history, said.
The training included members of the local NAACP chapter who expressed fears about traffic stops and other routine interactions with officers spiraling out of control.
"People are afraid of getting shot," Benjamin Watkins, a local pastor, said.
Berry hopes to expand the training sessions to include all rank and file officers.
Police spend an average of 60 hours in firearms training but little more than 8 hours on subjects like conflict resolution, said training moderator Melanye Smith Ph.D., who is also a retired D.C. police officer.
Charles County aims to change that, Berry said.
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