Public Trust and Institutional Satisfaction: An Assessment of Police-Community Relations in Calbayog City

Abstract

  This study assessed the relationship between public trust and institutional satisfaction regarding the Calbayog City Police. Utilizing a quantitative descriptive-comparative design, survey data were collected from 150 long-term residents across three major districts. The findings reveal a statistically significant positive correlation between overall community trust and satisfaction with police competence. While respondents reported high trust in procedural justice and satisfaction with active law enforcement, critical gaps were identified in perceived neutrality and proactive crime prevention. Demographic analyses indicated that middle-aged cohorts and medium-to-long-term residents reported significantly higher trust and satisfaction than newer, younger residents. The study concludes that while baseline institutional satisfaction is robust, it remains heavily dependent on the equitable application of justice. Elevating police-community relations requires targeted, high-visibility community engagement and transparent accountability mechanisms to address specific vulnerabilities in perceived neutrality and proactive public protection