INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

One significant technology advancement that is becoming more and more

popular in the law enforcement sector is body-worn cameras, or BWCs. While it

seeks to improve police practices, Koronadal City can increase the operational

effectiveness and accountability of its law enforcement services by implementing

body cameras. Koronadal City, as the heart of the Province of South Cotabato

struggles to maintain public safety while combating crime. Given this, the

deployment of body cameras by law enforcement agencies offers the initiative to

overcoming these problems. By creating video records of police interactions, BWCs

are a vital tool for enhancing transparency, accountability, and trust between law

enforcement officers and the communities they serve. By giving an actual account of

law enforcement activity, the use of body cameras in Koronadal City has the

potential to completely transform policing methods. BWCs act as unbiased witnesses

by recording interactions between law enforcement personnel and civilians, providing

unbiased insights into the workings of law enforcement. In addition to increasing

public trust, this transparency acts as a hindrance to dishonesty and abuse of power.

Furthermore, the quality of the evidence gathered for investigations and court

proceedings can be improved by the usage of body cameras. BWC film is a

trustworthy piece of evidence that backs up law enforcement personnel' testimonies

and provides vital context for criminal cases. As a result, this improves the legal

system and increases the likelihood of successful prosecutions.

This study aims to find out how effective body cams are when used in the

particular context in Koronadal City. In doing so, we also aim to produce useful
information and suggestions for improving the use of body cams in Koronadal City

law enforcement operations. In the pursuit of justice and security, local law

enforcement organizations may create safer and more resilient communities by

utilizing technology to improve openness, accountability, and community trust.

Conceptual Framework

The major concept of this study is to determine the effectiveness of using

body camera in conducting operations in a specific context in Koronadal City.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Use of Body Camera in

Conducting operations

Effects to the:

Community

Resource Allocation

Local Policies

Statement of the Problem

1. What is the Demographic Profile of the respondents?

1.1 Age

1.2 Gender

1.3 Assigned Station

 1.4 Rank

2. What is the effects of using body cameras on the Local Policies and

Regulations of Community, Expectation and Perception of the Community and

the Budget Allocation in Koronadal City?

3. What is the level of effectiveness in using Body Camera’s in conducting

operations in Koronadal City?

Scope and Delimitation

The study's main objective is to evaluate how body cams, in particular, have

affected Koronadal City's police enforcement activities. This covers the regular

patrols, traffic checks, incident response, and other tasks performed by law

enforcement officers. The study will be limited to the geographical region of

Koronadal City, with a particular emphasis on the law enforcement activities

carried out within its authority. It won't apply to other municipalities or cities in the

South Cotabato province.

Significance of the Study

This research will be significant to the following:

To the Law Enforcement Practices. The results of this study will be helpful in

improving Koronadal City's law enforcement procedures. Through an assessment

of the operational efficacy of body cams, the study can offer new perspectives on

how to improve accountability, openness, and professionalism in local law

enforcement.
To the Community. The results of this study can help guide policy choices and

community engagement programs that attempt to improve cooperation and

confidence between police enforcement and the communities they serve.

To the Future Researchers. The knowledge gathered from this research can be

used as a starting point for continued discussion, cooperation, and innovation in

the area of law enforcement practice and technology.

Definition of Terms

The following terms used in this study are defines conceptually and

operationally to ensure clarity and better understanding

Body Cameras: Portable audiovisual recording devices worn by law enforcement

personnel to capture interactions with civilians and document law enforcement

activities. (Lum, C., & Koper, C. S., 2018) Operationally, it refers to specific

models of audiovisual recording devices deployed by law enforcement agencies

in Koronadal City, including brands, specifications, and features such as

resolution, storage capacity, and battery life

Effectiveness: Measured through quantitative indicators such as changes in

crime rates, use-of-force incidents, civilian complaints against officers, and

qualitative assessments of officer behavior, community perceptions, and

operational outcomes. (Lum, C., Stoltz, M., Koper, C. S., & Scherer, A., 2019)

Operationally, it refers to the degree to which body cameras contribute to

achieving desired outcomes in law enforcement operations, including increased

transparency, accountability, crime reduction, and community trust.

 Law Enforcement Operations: Encompasses the day-to-day activities of law

enforcement personnel in Koronadal City, including routine patrols, traffic

enforcement, response to emergencies, investigations, and other duties as

defined by departmental policies and procedures. (Jennings, W. G., Fridell, L. A.,

& Lynch, M. D., 2015) Operationally, it refers to the range of activities conducted

by law enforcement personnel in Koronadal City, including patrols, traffic stops,

responses to incidents, investigations, and other duties related to maintaining

public safety and order.

Transparency: The quality of openness, honesty, and visibility in law

enforcement practices, facilitated by the use of body cameras to document and

record interactions between officers and civilians. (Lum, C., & Koper, C. S.,

2018). Operationally, it refers to the consistent use of body cameras during law

enforcement interactions, ensuring that audiovisual recordings are accessible,

retrievable, and retained in accordance with departmental protocols and legal

requirements.

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents the review of related literature of foreign and local

studies which are presented in the following paragraphs.

Foreign Literature
 In the United States, federal, state and municipal law enforcement agencies

frequently deploy body-worn cameras. Officers who conduct tasks requiring direct

and open communication with the public are the ones who wear those most often.

The data for body-worn cameras' efficacy is currently conflicting, despite their

widespread and expanding use. Studies demonstrating either no effect or potential

harm indicate that body-worn cameras may have advantages. These studies'

contradictory findings clearly suggest the need for more investigation. More research

is especially required using randomized control trials. (National Institute of Justice,

2022).

The anticipated impact on officer behavior and subsequent outcomes is based on a

theoretical framework that includes social interactionist theory of coercive actions,

deterrence, and objective self-awareness theories. While this study is not a test of

theory, a review of the applicable literature regarding this framework is helpful to

establish the basis for the claims made by BWC proponentsconcerning the benefits

of the devices (Farrar & Ariel, 2013; Ariel, Farrar & Sutherland, 2015)

This anticipated positive impact on officer behavior is presumed to manifest in

reduced use of force incidents and citizen complaints. Presentation of the extant

published studies that examined the impact of BWCs on use of force and citizen

complaints follows, and the chapter concludes with a discussion of a potential

confounding factor, a possible de-policing effect.Use of Force, Abuse of Authority,

and Citizen Complaints.

While most instances of police use of force are determined to be appropriate, and

officers are authorized to use force and expected to do so when it is justified to

enforce the law and maintain public safety, the legal parameters for the justification
of use of force are vague. Even legally justified uses of force can, and often are

perceived by citizens as an abuse of authority and can have a negative impact on

police legitimacy. While unnecessary, inappropriate, and/or excessive force are

serious abuses of authority, there are other forms that are extremely harmful as well.

Verbal and legal abuses can have a serious negative impact on the victim including

psychological harm and unjust negative consequences in matters of life and

liberty.Identifying the correlates of use of force and abuse of authority and estimating

the frequency of these phenomena accurately has been elusive.

These events have increased public concern about police conduct. Because of

these events and the adverse publicity they have generated, many police

departments have begun using body-worn cameras. The police use of body-worn

cameras raises many important issues such as their effects on privacy and police-

community relations. Because police departments have just recently begun using

body cameras, there has been limited research on them. Consequently, the current

study examined whether the public favors the use of body-worn cameras, how they

view their possible positive and negative effects, and how they believe the police

should use body-worn cameras. Participants were found to strongly support the use

of body-worn cameras, though there was much less consensus among participants

about how they should be used. (Paulsen, Deanna 2016).

Officer body-worn cameras, or BWCs, are an evolving technology impacting policing.

The technology is quickly being implemented by police departments across the

United States to increase transparency in police-public interactions and also to

provide a more accurate account of what happened in a given incident. This

technology has been of particular interest in the wake of high profile lethal force

incidents in the United States; multiple studies over the time period of 2014-2018
have examined whether BWCs can reduce use of force incidents by law

enforcement officers. Research conducted on BWCs in the United States present

mixed findings: BWCs demonstrate the ability to lower both use of force incident

rates and complaints against law enforcement officers, and also have significant

monetary costs and privacy risks, especially if improperly implemented. The

significant costs, benefits, and risks associated with the technology account for why

BWCs will always be a controversial issue and why the technology will always have

its supporters and critics.The availability of body-worn camera footage has

influenced public opinion by providing a visual record of police encounters. It allows

the public to witness firsthand the actions and behaviors of both officers and civilians

involved in these interactions. This transparency can help bridge the gap between

communities and law enforcement, fostering a better understanding and empathy.

(Aaron Rousell and Steven Witt 11-18-2023)

Body-worn camera footage has also played a crucial role in legal proceedings. It

provides objective evidence that can corroborate or challenge testimonies, enabling

more accurate determinations of guilt or innocence. In cases of alleged police

misconduct, the footage can serve as a vital piece of evidence, aiding in

investigations and holding officers accountable for their actions. The use of body-

worn cameras has led to higher rates of convictions and plea bargains, as well as a

reduction in the number of complaints against officers.

However, it is important to recognize the potential limitations of body-worn camera

footage. The positioning of the camera may not always capture the complete picture,

potentially missing crucial details or angles. Interpretation of the footage can also be

subjective, requiring careful analysis and consideration of the context in which the
events took place. Additionally, privacy concerns must be addressed, particularly in

sensitive locations or during encounters involving vulnerable individuals.

Aside from protecting individual officers, body-worn cameras can help your business

manage incidents more effectively. Body-worn camera footage can help you

understand and reconstruct what happened without having to rely solely on

interviews. For retail businesses especially, the presence of security officers with

body-worn cameras can aid in loss prevention, including employee theft. The mere

presence of a camera, especially one that has livestreaming capabilities, is capable

of deterring a crime, according to a former burglar. Having a security officer with a

body-worn camera patrolling the premises can also make people less likely to

engage in other disruptive activities, like intentionally damaging products or

harassing other shoppers.

Aside from being a crime deterrent and a helpful tool for managing incidents, the

presence of body-worn camera footage has been linked to fewer complaints — one

2018 study found that every $1 spent on body-worn cameras equated to $4 saved in

litigation. It seems that having irrefutable video evidence of what took place mitigates

many frivolous complaints.

Fewer complaints leads to less of your time and resources going to filing paperwork

that leads nowhere. Generally speaking, using body-worn cameras can help you

streamline administrative processes and make incidents easier to resolve since the

presence of concrete evidence (via footage) will clearly show what took place.

The truth benefits all, including anyone involved in security incidents and the public

at large. Interacting with a security officer equipped with a body-worn camera, as

well as seeing camera footage that clearly shows how events unfolded, can put
people’s minds at ease and ultimately preserve a brand’s reputation following a

dispute. Having readily-available footage can also assist law enforcement personnel

with investigations and foster trust if a particular incident is publicized. By being able

to show exactly what took place, you are confirming that you have nothing to hide,

which bolsters your brand and your client’s brand.

Law enforcement agencies have explored and implemented the use of body worn

cameras as a tool to help hold police officers accountable and make the operations

of the Philippines National Police more transparent. To rebuild trust within the

community and reduce human rights violations, this qualitative study was conducted

to determine the consequences specifically the advantages and disadvantages of

body-worn cameras during police operations as perceived by police officers. The

study was conducted in Baguio City among the 15 members of the Baguio City

Police Office (BCPO) who are responsible for enforcing arrest warrants arrest,

search warrants, and the members of the drug operatives who have experienced

using body-worn cameras in all the conduct of their police operations for almost a

year since its implementation in August 2021

Based on the study, the police officers stated that the use body-worn cameras

during police operations leads to removes doubt and leads to transparency in any

police operations. Likewise, the footage taken with the use of the body worn camera

is reliable evidence in court provided that the rules and policies are strictly observed.

On the other hand, body-worn cameras used during police operations are easily

discharged and hard to conceal. Similarly, there is still the lack of body worn camera

to be used in all police stations and that police officers rely on the use of an

alternative recording device during Police operations. The findings further cites that
there is an improvement in civilian perceptions by reductions in complaints and use

of force and human rights violations. (Tad-awan, 2023).

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methodology use by the researchers in gathering

data regarding the effectiveness of using body cam in conducting operations in

Koronadal City.
Research Design

This study will use a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and

qualitative methods to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of body cameras in

law enforcement operations. This approach allows for the triangulation of data from

multiple sources, enhancing the validity and reliability of the findings.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents of this study will be the Law enforcement personnel, from

various ranks and units within the Koronadal City Police Station, including patrol

officers, traffic enforcement personnel, and specialized units. Aside from this,

perspective coming from individual community resident will be part of this study to

gather information about their perspective on the implementation of body cam.

Locale of the Study

This study will be conducted in the City of Koronadal, South Cotabato, also

known as Marbel, the capital of South Cotabato and serves as a major hub of

commerce, education, and government services in the region. With a diverse

population and a mix of urban and rural areas, Koronadal City presents a dynamic

setting for studying the implementation and impact of body cameras in law

enforcement operations
 Figure 2: Locale of the Study

Source:https://www.google.com/search?q=koronadal+city+pnp+station

Research Instruments

The main instrument of this study will be survey questionnaire and personal

interviews from the chosen respondents of this study. These research instruments

can be tailored and adapted to suit the specific objectives of the study on the

effectiveness of body cameras in Koronadal City, ensuring comprehensive data

collection and analysis from multiple perspectives.

Data Gathering Method

The researchers will be collecting data from the respondents using a series of

procedures. First, the researcher will request a letter of permission from City of

Koronadal PNP Station as noted by our thesis adviser and the Academic Head, to

gather data on the effectiveness of body cameras in conducting operations in

Koronadal City, a combination of data gathering methods can be employed. The

researcher will prepare a series of survey questionnaire and interview questions for

Law enforcement personnel. These interviews can provide in-depth insights into the

implementation, challenges, and potential benefits of body cameras in Koronadal

City. The researchers will then gather and will tabulate the results in a truthful

manner.
Analysis of Data

To analyze the data on the effectiveness of body cameras in conducting

operations in Koronadal City, a structured approach is necessary. Quantitative data

from surveys will be analysed using statistical methods such as descriptive statistics,

chi-square tests, and regression analysis. Qualitative data from interviews,

observations, and document analysis will be subjected to thematic analysis to extract

key themes, patterns, and insights

Statistical Treatment

Statistical treatment refers to the application of statistical methods to analyze

and interpret data. In the context of studying the effectiveness of body cameras in

conducting operations in Koronadal City, several statistical treatments can be

applied to assess the relationship between variables and determine the impact of

body cameras

To get the proper number of the respondents, the researcher will use various

quantitative methods to analyzed and interpret the data that gathered.

Formulas:

f
%= x 100
N

Figure 3. Frequency and Percentage Formula

This treatment is written as % = f/N x 100, where % is the percent, f is the

frequency, and N is the number of populations.

 N
n=
1+ Ne ²

Figure 4. Slovin’s Formula

Where N be the population size, e is the level of sampling error or the margin

of error denotes the allowed probability of committing an error in selecting a small

representative of the population, and n where the number of sample or sample size.

x̄ = ∑x/n

Figure 5. Mean Formula

Where: Mean = Sum of observations

Total number of observations

To assess the association between categorical variables, such as the relationship

between the use of body cameras and the occurrence of use-of-force incidents or

citizen complaints Chi-square Test will be used. To explore the relationship between

body camera use (independent variable) and operational outcomes (dependent

variables), controlling for potential confounding variables. For instance, a regression

model can assess the impact of body cameras on crime rates, adjusting for factors

like officer deployment and community demographics the Regression Analysis will

be used.

Sampling Design
 Designing a sampling plan for assessing the effectiveness of using body

cameras in conducting operations in Koronadal City involves several key

considerations. Given that this is likely a finite population (the total number of law

enforcement officers conducting operations in Koronadal City) we will be using a

census approach where the researcher will attempt to gather data from all officers.

Alternatively, if the population is very large, the researcher will employ a systematic

sampling method where every nth officer is selected from a list. Since this is a study

about the effectiveness of body cameras, it will be beneficial to ensure diversity in

the sample, including officers from different ranks, departments, and with varying

levels of experience.