The police are the public and the public are the police; -Robert Peel

On the 27th day of January 2023, at about 10:00 am, P/CDT PASCUAL, together with P/CDT SOSITO and P/CDT ILUSTRISIMO, attended the meeting with Advocacy Support Groups of Pasig City held at Pasig CPS Multi-Purpose Hall, Caniogan, Pasig and to discuss the concerns of the community and raise suggestions for the betterment of the Police-Community relations.

The Advocacy Support Groups (ASG) act as force multipliers as they help the police by reporting what is happening around them. Their reports are needed so that the PNP would be more effective in delivering services to the public. The active participation of the community is required to eradicate criminality and terrorism and to maintain peace and order in our country.

The cadets mentioned above were also given a chance to introduce themselves and extend their gratitude and recognize their efforts in performing such duties. As future officers of the country, they promised to give their full support to have a progressive community. The activity was joined by different Presidents/Chairmen/Representatives of ASGs' of the Pasig community. PCPT RESEL GUEVARRA, OIC-SCADU, and PEMS Rocard Acorda, Deputy Chief-SCADU, spearheaded it.

The statement "the police is the public and the public is the police" reflects the idea that the police and the community they serve are closely interconnected and have a mutual responsibility to maintain public safety and order. It suggests that the police are members of the community they do and are accountable to the community for their actions.

The idea behind this statement is that the police should work in partnership with the community to identify and solve problems and that the community should have a role in shaping the policies and practices of the police. This can build trust and cooperation between the police and the community, leading to more effective and responsive policing.

In practice, the relationship between the police and the community can be complex, and it is essential for both the police and the community to work together to understand each other's perspectives and to find ways to work together effectively. This can involve regular communication, community outreach, and opportunities for community members to provide feedback on policing practices.

Cadets must establish trust with the community they will serve to be effective police officers. A lack of trust can hinder their ability to gather information, investigate crimes, and respond to emergencies. We must also learn how to engage with the community effectively, and positive police-community relations can support community policing efforts. Lastly, PNPA cadets must demonstrate professionalism in their conduct. Positive police-community relations can promote this professionalism and ensure that the public sees them as trustworthy and reliable.

REFERENCE:

[1] Peel, R. (2017, February 21). Sir Robert Peel's policing principles. Law Enforcement Action Partnership. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/peel-policing-principles/