Navigating the New Reality: Challenges Faced by Police Trainees During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented
unprecedented challenges for police training programs
worldwide, requiring adaptations to ensure the safety of
trainees while also providing effective training. This
qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore the
experiences of police trainees during the COVID-19
pandemic. Thirty (30) police trainees from the Police
Regional Office-Cordillera participated in the study, and
data was collected through semi-structured interviews.
Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, revealing
common challenges encountered by the participants. The
study found that police trainees faced various challenges
during the pandemic, including the absence of
opportunities to spend time with their loved ones during
recognition ceremonies due to the pandemic, difficulty
adjusting to a new culture and environment,
discrimination because of COVID-19, and the requirement
to always wear a face mask and face shield.