Police Visibility in Relation to Public Safety as Perceived by the Community

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between police visibility and community perceptions of public safety in one of the cities in Misamis Occidental, Philippines. Using a descriptive-correlational design, data were collected from 150 residents aged 18 years and above, selected through simple random sampling across multiple barangays. A researcher-developed questionnaire measured police visibility through patrol frequency, community engagement activities, and visibility of police resources, while community perceptions of safety were assessed via feelings of security, trust in law enforcement, perceived crime trends, community involvement, and overall satisfaction with police efforts. Prior to the main study, a pilot test was conducted to refine the instrument, and internal consistency was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha. To minimize social desirability bias, respondents were assured of anonymity and confidentiality during data collection.