Police Transparency and Community Perception of Law Enforcement Credibility: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Police transparency has become an essential component of democratic policing, influencing public trust, accountability, and institutional legitimacy. This study examined the relationship between police transparency and community perception of law enforcement credibility in selected barangays in Pagadian City, Philippines. Using a descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from 80 respondents, including barangay officials and police personnel, through a structured questionnaire that measured police transparency indicators (media presence, community engagement, and body-worn camera use) and community perceptions of police credibility. Descriptive statistics and Kendall’s tau-b correlation analysis were employed to analyze the data. Results revealed that police transparency was perceived as high (WM = 3.97), while community perception of law enforcement credibility was very high (WM = 4.67). However, correlation analysis showed no statistically significant relationship between police transparency and community perception of credibility (τ = 0.016, p = 0.888). These findings suggest that while transparency practices are positively perceived, they do not independently determine public perceptions of police credibility. Instead, interpersonal conduct, professionalism, and procedural fairness may play more significant roles in shaping public trust. The study contributes to the policing literature by highlighting the complexity of trust formation and by providing policy recommendations to enhance police-community relations through procedural justice and sustained engagement strategies.