Investigation and detective competencies of the philippine nationalpolice in the province of bataan: Basis for professional development plan

The carrying into action of police investigation is subject to considerable changeableness in terms of successes and failure. One latent explanation for such variation is the extent to which socio-demographic characteristics associated with effective administration of police investigation.

Efficacious police investigation is considered a significant obligatory for organizational police performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of respondents’ socio-demographic profile with their investigation and detective skills and competencies. A sample of 130 police officers from the PNP Bataan was taken as respondents using the Investigation and Detective Competencies Inventory covering nine (9) skills relative to investigation activities. Descriptive method of research was used and correlation was chosen as the method of analysis.

Results indicated that police-respondents consider themselves ’ competent’ in all of the following areas of investigative activities; investigative skills, legal knowledge, law enforcement, organizational awareness, research and analysis, oral communications, partnership and team building, written communications, and influencing and negotiating. Police-respondents who perceived themselves to be competent in investigative works and have attended a number of specialized training in investigation are more likely to have higher level of competency on areas of law enforcement, oral communications, partnership and team building, written communication, and influencing and negotiating.

It was then recommended that PNP administrators should develop and implement formal systems for the early identification of potential effective Investigating Officers and their subsequent career development. Senior officers should provide future Investigating Officers with relevant opportunities to ensure that gaps in their skill portfolio are addressed by appropriate training and experiences.

More in-depth studies should be conducted on the profiling of an effective Investigating Officer with additional variables on management skills, investigative ability, and relevant knowledge.