HUBUNGAN TINGKAT PENGETAHUAN MENGENAI KASUS PENEMBAKAN SISWA SMK 4 SEMARANG DAN INTENSITAS INTERAKSI DENGAN POLISI TERHADAP CITRA POLRESTABES KOTA SEMARANG

Abstract

Public trust in the police institution is a crucial indicator in realizing a fair and transparent legal system. In this context, the image of the Semarang City Police (Polrestabes Semarang) reflects how the public evaluates the performance and interactions built by the police officers. This study aims to examine the relationship between the public’s level of knowledge regarding the shooting case involving a student from SMK 4 Semarang and the intensity of their interactions with police officers on the image of Polrestabes Semarang. Employing a quantitative method with a survey approach involving 100 respondents aged over 17 years from Semarang City and grounded in attribution theory, the data were analyzed using Spearman's Rho correlation test with the help of SPSS software. The results indicate a significant relationship between the police image and two key variables: the public's knowledge of police-related issues and their direct interaction experiences with officers. These findings highlight the importance of transparent public communication strategies and the development of humanistic and sustainable social interaction programs to strengthen public trust and foster a positive image of the police institution.