COMMUNITY VIEWS ON POLICE PUBLIC IMAGE

A Thesis Proposal
Presented to the Faculty of the
College of Criminal Justice
University of Cebu
Cebu City

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirement for the Degree of
Bachelor of Science in Criminology

by

JOHN CLARENCE G. HEREDIA

MARUEL T. SUMAYANG
FREDIRICK S. VILLACORTA

May, 2024

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

Title Page

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of Contents

Chapter

1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Theoretical Background

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

Significance of the Study

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design

Research Environment

Research Informants

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 Research Instrument

Research Procedures

Gathering Data

Analysis and Interpretation

Ethical Considerations

Trustworthiness of the Research

DEFINITION OF TERMS

CURRICULUM VITAE

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 CHAPTER 1
PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE
INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, are often a topic of

debate within communities worldwide regarding their public image. This is

due to a history of discrimination, abuse of power, and excessive use of

force. It's important for these agencies to build trust and improve their public

image by being transparent, accountable, and responsive to community

concerns.

To achieve this, they should consider their target audience and

provide necessary information in a direct, concise way. The text should be

organized logically, with important information presented first. To increase

clarity, everyday language should be used, avoiding acronyms, jargon, and

legal language. The text should use the active voice and favor the verb form

of the word.

The public has mixed views about law enforcement, especially the

police. Some appreciate their work, while others have negative perceptions.

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Building trust and positive relationships can improve the overall perception

of law enforcement.

As criminology students and researchers, studying the public image of

police sheds light on a complex and multifaceted concept that is shaped by

various factors such as media portrayal, personal experiences, and societal

perceptions. It is alarming to learn that while some people view police

officers as symbols of safety and protection, others may harbor distrust or

skepticism due to incidents of misconduct, bias, or excessive use of force.

It is crucial to make efforts to improve the public image of police by

promoting transparency, accountability, and constructive dialogue between

law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. This way, we can

foster trust and cooperation between the police and the public, which is

essential for a safe and just society.

Law enforcement, especially the police, is a vital component of

upholding societal safety and order. However, recent years have seen an

increase in criticism and scrutiny of police conduct due to misconduct, racial

bias, and excessive use of force. This has led to a growing divide between

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law enforcement and communities, which undermines the effectiveness of

policing and erodes public trust. To ensure that law enforcement can

continue to perform their duties effectively, it's important to recognize and

address these issues, and work towards rebuilding trust and cooperation with

the community.

Theoretical Background

This study is anchored on General Strain Theory of Robert Agnew

(1977) and supported by Social Learning Theory of Albert S. Bandura

(1977) along with the Cognitive Theory by Jean Piaget (1952).

Community policing throughout the country has many goals including

decentralization, power-sharing, community involvement, crime prevention,

problem solving, better training among the personnel, and reducing conflict

between the police and the public. All of these goals are essentially designed

to create better relations between the public and the police, mainly by

creating a better image of the police officers within the communities. Instead

of the police being seen as an “occupying force” (Skolnick, 1994),

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 Central to understanding conflict and relationship building associated

with issues surrounding the relations between the police and the public is

understanding, the perceptions that both hold towards each other. Images

function like stereotypes. They inform the perceiver of presumed intentions,

character, capabilities, and motivations of other people. They are heavily

affect laden and, in combination with the powerful driving forces of danger,

racism, classism, sexism, stress, and other factors that can affect an officer’s

judgment, they can produce acts of tremendous violence (Cottam, 1998).

According to Crank (1999), carries the idea of images even further

when he expands the idea of images from people to community. Crank

argues that not only are there “symbolic assailants,” but there are also

“assailant geographies.” The idea of “assailant geographies,” gives the

impression that not only are people perceived as dangerous to the police, but

also the entire structure of the community can be perceived as dangerous. If

these images are as salient as prior literature insinuates then they become

essential to the development and success of innovative policing programs.

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 THE PROBLEM

Statement of the problem

This study aims to explore the Community’s view on Police Public

Image in (Sawang Calero) Cebu City.

Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the positive views of the informants on the police

public image?

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 2. What are the negative views of the informants on the police

public image?

3. How do the informants describe the impact of the police public

image on the PNP relation to the community?

Significance of the study

The researcher is convinced that the results would help the following

persons or agencies both national and local government agencies in terms of

Community's views on police public image in a barangay setting. This study

is beneficial to the following entities:

Community. This study could improve the public's perception of the

police. Gathering data could promote understanding and build trust between

law enforcement and communities. It's a valuable tool for shedding light on

important issues.

Philippine National Police (PNP). The data to be gather in this study

will serve as an eye opener to the general public in terms as it can help in

creating more comprehensive professional development trainings and

seminars. This, in turn, can contribute to enhancing their image in the

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community.

Local Government Unit (LGU). This study aids the local

government in maintaining community peace and order. Insights gained will

guide effective policy creation and assistance. The study's findings serve as a

guiding light for necessary support in a peaceful and harmonious

community."

National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM). This research aims to

gain valuable insights into public perceptions in order to ensure that policies

and practices are in line with community expectations.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). This study

improves and monitors Philippine National Police officers' contributions to

the community, identifying areas for enhancement and alignment with

community needs and expectations.

Non-Government Organization (NGO).This study aims to advocate

for policy changes and reforms to enhance police-community relations.

The Researchers. This study advances researchers' understanding of

public perception of police image, providing new and comprehensive

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perspectives.

Future Researchers. The study's output can serve as a reference for

future researchers seeking literature on the community's perception of police

public image. By sharing the findings of this study, researchers can build on

the knowledge gained and continue to advance the field.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study employed a qualitative method of research with an aid of a

questionnaire. To inquire on the community’s view on police public image.

Phenomenology is recognized as the appropriate approach to this

present study as it focused on human phenomenon and its importance

especially to criminology as a field of discipline. As this is a qualitative

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analysis of narrative data, methods to analyze its data must be quite different

from more traditional or quantitative methods of research. Essentially, you

are focused on meaning, the meaning of the experience, behavior and

narrative (Paley, 2016).

As to Boeije (2009), phenomenology is sometimes considered a

philosophical perspective as well as an approach to qualitative methodology.

It has a long history in several social research disciplines including

psychology, sociology and social work. Phenomenology is a school of

thought that emphasizes a focus on people's subjective experiences and

interpretations of the world. That is, the phenomenologist wants to

understand how the world appears to others. Phenomenological methods are

particularly effective at bringing to the fore the experiences and perceptions

of individuals from their own perspectives, and therefore at challenging

structural or normative assumptions. Adding an interpretive dimension to

phenomenological research, enabling it to be used as the basis for practical

theory, allows it to inform, support or challenge policy and action.

Research Environment

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 Our study will be conducted in Cebu City, a coastal highly urbanized

city in the Central Visayas region. Although administratively independent

due to its distinction as highly urbanized city, Cebu City is commonly

grouped with the island province of Cebu. The highly urbanized city also

serves as the provincial capital as well as the regional center of Central

Visayas. The city has a land area of 315.00 square kilometers or 121.62

square miles. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 964,169.

Cebu city is comprised of 80 barangays where 10 of which are specifically

selected for the conduct of interview.

Sawang Calero, formerly Poblacion, is a barangay in Cebu City. Its

population as determined by the 2020 Census was 7,676. This represented

0.80% of the total population of Cebu City. The household population of

Sawang Calero in the 2015 Census was 8,223 broken down into 1,668

households or an average of 4.93 members per household.

According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest

population in Sawang Calero is 5 to 9, with 1,010 individuals. Conversely,

the age group with the lowest population is 80 and over, with 39 individuals.

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Combining age groups together, those aged 14 and below, consisting of the

young dependent population which include infants/babies, children and

young adolescents/teenagers, make up an aggregate of 37.07% (3,062).

Those aged 15 up to 64, roughly, the economically active population and

actual or potential members of the work force, constitute a total of 59.37%

(4,903). Finally, old dependent population consisting of the senior citizens,

those aged 65 and over, total 3.56% (294) in all.

The computed Age Dependency Ratios mean that among the

population of Sawang Calero, there are 62 youth dependents to every 100 of

the working age population; there are 6 aged/senior citizens to every 100 of

the working population; and overall, there are 68 dependents (young and

old-age) to every 100 of the working population. The median age of 22

indicates that half of the entire population of Sawang Calero are aged less

than 22 and the other half are over the age of 22.

The population of Sawang Calero grew from 6,035 in 1990 to 7,676 in

2020, an increase of 1,641 people over the course of 30 years. The latest

census figures in 2020 denote a negative growth rate of 1.53%, or a decrease

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of 583 people, from the previous population of 8,259 in 2015. Sawang

Calero is situated at approximately 10.2922, 123.8884, in the island of Cebu.

Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 3.4 meters or 11.2 feet above

mean sea level.

Research Informants

The informants of this study are 10 persons who have stayed at the

Sawang Calero, Cebu City for at least three years. These is coming from the

ordinary individuals and barangay officials in Sawang Calero, Cebu City.

Research Instrument

In gathering of data, the researchers will utilize self-made-panel-

approached interview guide consisting of the following parts: part 1, deals

on positive views of the informants on the police public image; part 2, deals

on negative views of the informants on the police public image; part 3, the

impact of the Police Public Image on the PNP relation to the community.

The researchers will arrange an interview with the informants, explain

the matters of confidentiality, prepare consent forms, will make sure to ask

open-ended questions to the informants.

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Research Procedure

According to Miles and Huberman (2013), purposive convenient

sampling was employed to select the informants. Before the interview, the

researchers will explain to the informants the purpose of the study and the

manner by which the interview was done. This study is oriented in

qualitative research where before the interview; the informants signed the

informed consent form.

Qualitative research has been described as a naturalistic study

conducted through prolonged contact with field situations which typically

reflect the everyday life and the explicit and implicit rules that govern that

life (Miles, Huberman and Saldana, 2013).

Data Collection. Prior to the interview, the researchers have written

a transmittal letter duly signed and approved by the Dean of the Criminology

Department addressed to specific places for us to conduct the interviews to

the informants. The data is gathered through interview and with an aide of

the voice recorder. The participants are being asked to answer the questions

honestly and completely and are given the letter and informed consent form

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stating that the person was informed of the study. The primary method for

data collection in this research involves semi-structured interviews used to

refine and develop an understanding of how participants view their

situations after experienced on handling checkpoints. Data collection refers

to the survey method that is developed and utilized to obtain information.

The methods that will be utilized in this study are structured interviews

employing close-ended and open-ended questions with the participants who

were deprived of liberty; Observations were conducted by the researcher

ourselves during interview and visits on the areas. In order to keep a proper

record of the observation, a schedule with the following columns were used,

time (days, weeks, and months), place type of event, and subjects.

Data Analysis. Thematic content analysis is utilized to analyze and

cluster interview answers in common themes for interpretation. In this

research, recorded responses to interviews are analyzed deductively to

obtain discrete, key themes that are relevant and specific to individual

categories. This inspection and analysis of the content being provided

through the interview will reveal messages within the content itself.

Thematic code analysis is used to inspect themes which emerge during

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analysis for the purpose of gauging the frequency of themes and similarities

between users in use of themes.

The following steps were used in analyzing: Transcription, the first

step is to transcribe the data from the tape into a paper. The purpose is to

clean and edit the manuscripts by eliminating typographical errors and

contradictions; checking and editing the next step is check and edit

transcripts, prepare data for further analysis; analysis and interpretation

categories were developed, coding and data reduction was completed, and

trends in the data were identified.

During this process, the researchers take all collected data, including

field notes and interview transcripts, and begin to form a clear understanding

of the information. The researcher will then code the data, conducting

content analysis by looking for specific words from which themes can be

identified. Generalization the findings of individual interviews are

generalized and differences and similarities identified, allowing for the

development of typologies. Verification during this step the researchers

embark on a process of checking the validity of interpretations by going

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through the transcripts again. This allows the researcher to verify or modify

hypotheses.

Ethical Consideration.

The identities of the participants are treated with confidentiality, and

prior permission is obtained from the participants before the interviews to be

conducted. The researchers also comply with the policy on research, namely

the informed consent form, before conducting the research on community

views on police public image. Ethical standard prevents against the

fabrication or falsifying of data and therefore, promote the pursuit of

knowledge and truth which is the primary goal of research. Ethical behavior

is also critical for collaborative work because it encourages an environment

of trust, accountability and mutual respect among researchers. This is

especially important when considering issues related to data sharing, co-

authorship, copyright guidelines, confidentiality, and many other issues.

Researchers must also adhere to ethical standards in order for the public to

support and believe in the research. The public wants to be assured that

researchers followed the appropriate guidelines for issues such as human

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rights, animal welfare, compliance with the law, conflict of interest, safety,

health standard and so on.

The handling of the ethical issues greatly impacts the integrity of the

research project and can affect whether or not the project receives funding.

Because ethical considerations are so important in research, many

professional associations and agencies have adopted codes and policies that

outline ethical behavior and guide researchers.

Beneficence. The primary objective of the study was to contribute

positively to the well-being of community, advocating for enhanced working

conditions and support systems. The research sought to bring attention to the

distinctive challenges and needs of these individuals by providing a platform

for their voices, with the potential to influence favorable policy and systemic

changes. Furthermore, participants were offered post-interview resources

and support services.

Non-maleficence. A central concern is the minimization of potential

harm. Participation will be entirely voluntary, involving a comprehensive

informed consent process that elucidates the study's purpose, potential risks,

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and participants' rights, including the ability to withdraw at any point

without consequences. Anonymous data collection and storage procedures

are to be implemented to ensure confidentiality. Sensitive topics will be

approached with empathy and respect, and participants will receive

debriefing and emotional support as needed.

Justice. The study will ensure in maintaining a fair and equitable

research process. Recruitment efforts target a diverse sample that accurately

represents the demographics of community within the assigned jurisdiction.

The selection will be based on informed consent and willingness to

participate, avoiding predetermined criteria that could introduce bias. Data

analysis will remain attuned to potential power imbalances, striving to

authentically represent participants' experiences.

Autonomy. Respecting participants’ autonomy will be upheld

throughout the research process. Informed consent forms will utilize clear

and accessible language, emphasizing participants' right to make informed

decisions about their involvement. Strict avoidance of coercion or undue

influence will be observed. Participants are empowered to control the pace

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and content of the interviews and their feedback on the research findings are

actively sought to ensure accuracy and authenticity.

Trustworthiness of Research

Trustworthiness as Sandelowski (1993) mentioned is a matter of

persuasion whereby the scientist is viewed as having made those practices

visible and therefore auditable. Trustworthiness has been further divided into

credibility, which corresponds roughly with the positivist concept of internal

validity; dependability, which relates more to reliability; transferability,

which is a form of external validity; and confirmability, which is largely an

issue of presentation.

Credibility. It is the first aspect or criterion that must be established.

It is seen as the most important aspect or measure in establishing

trustworthiness because credibility essentially asks the researcher to link the

research study’s findings with reality to demonstrate the truth of the research

findings.

Transferability. The researchers will also establish transferability by

providing a robust and detailed account of his experiences during data

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collection. The researchers will make explicit connections to the cultural and

36 social contexts that surround data collection. This means talking about

where the interviews transpired, the general setup of the environment, and

other aspects of data collection that help provide a richer and fuller

understanding of the research setting. Thus, constitutes the idea that the

research study’s findings could apply to other contexts, situations, times, and

populations (Guba, 1981).

Dependability. Dependability, on the other hand, is also important to

trustworthiness because it establishes the research study’s findings as

consistent and repeatable. The researchers will aim to verify that the findings

are consistent with the raw data they collected, making sure that if some

other researchers were to look over the data, they would arrive at similar

findings, interpretations, and conclusions about the data. This is important to

make sure that anything will not be missed in the research study, or that the

researchers will not be sloppy or misguided in his or her final report (Guba,

1981).

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 Confirmability. Guba (1981) posited that confirmability is the last

criterion of trustworthiness the researchers need to establish in this study.

This criterion has to do with the level of confidence that the research study’s

findings will be based on the participants’ narratives and words rather than

potential researcher biases.

Reflexivity. Embarking on qualitative research as a novice, my

limited experience in this domain raises the possibility that the quality of

analysis may be affected by my background. The study, focusing on the

community views on police public image, demands a keen recognition of

potential personal biases, especially given that I am a woman myself. This

connection introduces a layer of complexity that necessitates a vigilant

reflexivity throughout the research process.

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 DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are defined to give further clarifications and

understanding.

Positive views of the informants on the Police public image. This

refers to the police's adherence to high standards of conduct, competence,

and ethical behavior, which influences how informants perceive their

capability, courtesy, and efficiency in their duties.

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 Negative views of the informants on the Police public image. This

term refers to the police's failure to build relationships with the community.

Negative views on community engagement suggest that informants see the

police as detached and uninterested in fostering a positive relationship with

the public.

Impact of the police public image on the PNP in relation to the

community. Refers to the perception that the PNP operates justly, fairly,

and lawfully. A positive public image enhances the PNP's legitimacy,

increasing community support and compliance with police directives.

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APPENDIX A

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APPENDIX B

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APPENDIX D

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 CURRICULUM VITAE

John Clarence G. Heredia

Duljo Fatima Cebu City
Clarencejohn33@[Link]
0999 974 0412
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
BACHELOR’S DEGREE:
Schools: University of Cebu – Main Campus
Course: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
(PRESENT)
SECONDARY:

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 School: University of Cebu – Main Campus
2015 – 2021
PERSONAL DATA:
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: May 5, 2003
Place of Birth: Cebu City
Height: 6 ft
Weight: 90 kg
Civil Status: Single
Citizenship: Filipino
Religion: Roman Catholic

Maruel T. Sumayang
Babag 2 Busay, Cebu City
Sumayangmt@[Link]
0978 456 1234
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
BACHELOR’S DEGREE:
Schools: University of Cebu – Main Campus
Course: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

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 (PRESENT)
SECONDARY:
School: University of Cebu – Main Campus
2015 – 2021
PERSONAL DATA:
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: December 25, 2003
Place of Birth: Cebu City
Height: 6 ft
Weight: 90 kg
Civil Status: Single
Citizenship: Filipino
Religion: Roman Catholic

Fredirick S. Villacorta
Malabago Badian, Cebu City

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 [Link]@[Link]
0934 567 7900
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
BACHELOR’S DEGREE:
Schools: University of Cebu – Main Campus
Course: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
(PRESENT)
SECONDARY:
School: University of Cebu – Main Campus
2015 – 2021
PERSONAL DATA:
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: April 30, 2003
Place of Birth: Cebu City
Height: 5 ft
Weight: 80 kg
Civil Status: Single
Citizenship: Filipino
Religion: Roman Catholic

33