Implications

For Theory

In view of the outcome of the study on determining the competency of police

investigators in developing latent prints, the researcher realized the importance of knowledge

and skills of the police investigators in the conduct of latent prints development. The actions

taken at the outset of an investigation at a crime scene can play a pivotal role in the resolution

of a case. Careful, thorough investigation is key to ensure that potential physical evidence is not

overlooked. Enhancement of police investigator’s competency during the conduct of crime

scene investigation or examination using forensic sciences such as developing of latent print is

very important. Also, it implies that if the level of competency of police investigators is high, it

means they are skilled, well trained and effective in their chosen field. Likewise, a very high

practice indicates that they are performing their responsibility at a high level of performance. It

gives good feedback and positive reflection to police investigators as well as to the PNP

organization as a whole.

“Criminal investigation is not just a set of task skills; it is equally a set of thinking skills

refers to knowledge”, Taber (2006). To become an effective police investigator, these skills

need to be consciously understood and developed to the point where they are deliberately

engaged to work through the problem-solving process that is criminal investigation.

The result points out the importance of the level of skills and knowledge in the

competency of police investigators in their field. Police investigators jobs entail significant roles

in the preservation of the crime scene, collecting the evidences, and devising an investigative

plan that will lead to the forming of reasonable grounds to identify and arrest the person or
persons responsible for the crime. More so, their investigative competency in finding justice for

the victims as well as putting the culprits behind the prison bars is the very essence of policing.

For Practice

The degree of competency of police investigators in developing latent prints using

black powder in six police stations in Iloilo City according to this study was very high for those

police investigators graduated Crimininology than those Non-Criminology in terms of education

attainment; highly competent for those police investigators with longer length of service than

short ones in terms of length of service and highly competent for those Senior Police

Investigators than Junior Police Investigators in terms of rank. This call for an acknowledgment

of police investigators with more experience have given their best and applied their skills and

knowledge in the performance of their duty. However, these police investigators with high

competency in skills and knowledge must maintain their practices and those police

investigators, though competent or moderately competent based on educational attainment,

rank and length of service must undergo refresher program to enhance their skills and

knowledge in developing latent print

It is always important for latent-print examiners/investigators to show that they are

competent at their jobs. To do this, some police investigator rely on their years of experience,

while others point to their accreditation. A number of examiners earn certification by the

International Association for Identification (IAI) and still others take proficiency and competency

tests on an annual basis (Triplett, 2008).

Today, forensic examiners receive training through a wide variety of programs and

approaches, and they follow a range of educational pathways that lead to careers in latent print
development. They usually work at law enforcement agencies where training comes from

internal mentorships, sometimes supplemented by external programs and formal training. In

this traditional approach, one generation of trainers transmits its knowledge and skill to the

next (Ashbaugh 199). To improve the training system, it is necessary first to understand what

skills and knowledge are necessary for latent print development. Examiners must have the

proper cognitive abilities to conduct latent print examinations and to communicate their

findings. These go beyond with the examiners specific abilities in perception and judgment

(Berrett-Koehler, 2006) .