LIFE OUTCOMES OF POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE KILLING OF FELLOW OFFICERS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY IN IFUGAO, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

The loss of a colleague, a family member or even a friend is a devastating experience that gives incomprehensible feeling to those involved and to their families. In this study, the contributory factors that influenced the participants in committing crimes against other police officers and the life outcomes of these experiences to the families of the police officers involved were underscored with the intention of a theory-based intervention program to be proposed to the Ifugao Police Provincial Office. In the study, it was found out that the factors are attributed to personal and organizational issues. These issues are too obvious but it becomes a tradition that the PNP cannot simply eradicate. Organizational Change is needed for the PNP to be resilient in terms of these issues. Further, it is clear that the police officer involved is not the only one affected but has some serious repercussions to the family and community of the person involved. It is concluded that working as a police officer provides various challenges and situations which may lead to the formation of moral risk that increase the likelihood that officers will engage in misconduct. The involvement of a police officer whether as offender or victim in similar incidents provide an unspeakable loss in terms of financial and psychological well-being to their families. The impact is much more felt by their families as they are the ones who will suffer the loss or humiliation as a result of the incident.