MEMBERS of the Pangasinan police force who were randomly chosen for a job aptitude test administered by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) scored low with just a 30 percent passing rate among the 300 examinees.

Lawyer Monday Samson, Napolcom provincial director, said this means that while policemen in the province are definitely qualified for their jobs, they seem to have forgotten some basic knowledge about their duties.

“Thus they need to update themselves or to be reoriented through continuing education by attending seminars so they do not forget the correct procedures,” Samson said.

He admitted that failure of police officers to follow procedural standards have resulted in the dismissal of some cases.

It was the first time last year that such a test, intended to determine knowledge about the work the police are mandated to do, was given as part of the Annual General Inspection of police offices around the country.

Samson said the test with 30 questions includes procedures for arrests, seizures, searches, filing of cases, among others.

The 300 examinees were non-commissioned officers with ranks from PO1 to SPO4.

Samson said the test serves as a jump-off point for future tests for police chiefs.

ERRING POLICEMEN

Meanwhile, Samson said the number of cases filed with the Napolcom in Pangasinan against erring policemen was down to 41 in 2013 from about 60 cases the previous year.

The charges filed involved conduct unbecoming, unlawful arrests, or failure to provide financial support to their estranged wife and children.

Of the 41 cases last year, seven remain undecided as of press time.

The resolved cases were meted demotion, suspension or dismissal from service.—Tita Roces

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