The Correlation Between Police Omnipresence and Public Trust in Barangay Roxas, Solano

Police omnipresence and public trust are essential components of effective community policing, as the visible presence of law enforcement is often associated with improved perceptions of safety, reduced fear of crime, and strengthened confidence in public institutions. In barangay settings, where residents and police officers interact more frequently, police visibility may directly influence how the community perceives trust, fairness, and law enforcement effectiveness. This study employed a descriptive-correlational research design involving 357 residents of Barangay Roxas, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire adapted from Gianan (2025) for police omnipresence and Tamayo (2025) for public trust, and analyzed using frequency and percentage, weighted mean, t-test, F-test, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. Results showed that respondents were mostly aged 25 years and below, male, employed, and long-term residents. Respondents rated both police omnipresence (M = 3.44) and public trust (M = 3.46) highly. No significant differences in police omnipresence were found across demographic variables, while public trust differed significantly by employment status (p = 0.047), with employed respondents reporting higher trust. Furthermore, a very strong and significant positive relationship was found between police omnipresence and public trust (r = 0.710), indicating that increased police visibility is associated with higher trust. Law enforcement agencies should therefore sustain and enhance visible, community-oriented policing strategies to further strengthen public trust.