TY  - BOOK
AU  - Pacaña, Jean Ross V.,
AU  - Badilis, Khentn Jhonzenth N.,
AU  - Broñola, Rialyn G.,
AU  - Navares, Cleoff C.,
AU  - Turtoga, Cashey Dara Mae E.,
TI  - Behind the badge: exploring the lived experiences of female police officers in handling violence against women and children cases at police station 2 and police station 4, Cebu City 
PY  - 0000///University of Cebu-Banilad,
CY  - Cebu City, Philippines
PB  - c2025.
KW  - Female Police Officers
KW  - iolence Against Women and Children (VAWC)
KW  - Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD)
KW  - Lived experiences
KW  - Gender-sensitive policing
KW  - Descriptive phenomenology
KW  - Police Station 2 (Abellana)
KW  - Police Station 4 (Mabolo)
KW  - Philippine National Police
N1  - Includes bibliographical references; Adult
N2  - "Female police officers assigned to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) serve as the primary frontline responders, counselors, investigators, and advocates for victims of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). Their presence fosters trust, emotional safety, and trauma-informed engagement, enabling victims to disclose abuse and seek justice. Despite their indispensable role, these officers operate within systems constrained by limited manpower, insufficient resources, and high emotional demands. This study was undertaken to explore the lived experiences of female police officers at Police Station 2 (Abellana) and Police Station 4 (Mabolo) in Cebu City, with emphasis on their professional roles, challenges, coping mechanisms, motivations, and aspirations in handling VAWC cases. A descriptive phenomenological research design was employed to capture the essence of the officers' experiences. Four female police officers assigned to the WCPD were selected through total population purposive sampling. Data were gathered using semi-structured, in-depth interviews and audio recordings with informed consent. The narratives were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's six-step process, ensuring rigor through bracketing, member checking, and ethical safeguards.

The findings revealed that female police officers are the backbone of gender-responsive policing in VAWC cases. Six major themes emerged: victim-focused service, case management, operational effectiveness, resource management, officer wellbeing, and professional identity. Officers consistently demonstrated empathy, resilience, and dedication despite challenges such as inadequate staffing, limited logistical support, emotional strain, and frequent victim desistance. Their strong commitment to protecting women and children sustains their effectiveness even under adverse conditions. The study concludes that strengthening institutional support, improving training implementation, and prioritizing the wellbeing of female police officers are essential to enhancing VAWC case handling and sustaining effective, compassionate law enforcement." —Abstract
ER  -