Citizens’ trust in police enforcement in Calbayog City, Philippines

Trust in police enforcement is a fundamental element for maintaining public order, promoting community safety, and ensuring the legitimacy of law enforcement agencies. It develops positive relationships between the police and the community, encouraging cooperation and compliance with the law. When citizens trust the police, they are more likely to report crimes, provide useful information, and engage in lawful behavior, which enhances crime prevention and resolution efforts. This paper descriptively analyzed citizens’ trust towards police enforcement in Calbayog City, Philippines in terms of accountability, transparency, fairness, and community engagement. Participants were purposively sampled using online tools and categorized into three groups: ordinary citizens (n=150), barangay officials (n=50), and members of the police auxiliary unit (n=225). Findings indicated that the public trust towards the police enforcement in the city was generally high and positive, but the auxiliary unit consistently rated police performance more favorably than ordinary citizens or barangay officials. The police enforcement in Calbayog City, while demonstrating generally positive accountability, transparency, fairness, and community engagement, still needs considerable focus on further development. It is essential to prioritize efforts aimed at bridging the gap between the police and the community, with particular emphasis on enhancing transparency, fairness, and inclusivity. There was also a need to develop effective communication channels to connect to a larger public. Acknowledging and addressing historical issues, perhaps through public forums or community outreach programs, would demonstrate commitment to fairness and accountability. Such initiatives would contribute to the strengthening of public trust and cooperation, which facilitates more effective policing and the improvement of public safety.