INVESTIGATOR COMPETENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC TRUST, AND PUBLIC SATISFACTION

Abstrak

This study aims to examine the influence of investigator competence and accountability on public satisfaction, and to analyze the moderating role of public trust in the relationship between investigator competence and public satisfaction. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach with 150 respondents from the Konawe Regency community who had received investigative services from the Konawe Police Department. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling with the Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) method. The results reveal that both investigator competence and accountability have a significant positive effect on public satisfaction. Furthermore, public trust significantly moderates the relationship between investigator competence and public satisfaction, strengthening this relationship. These findings highlight the importance of professional competence and accountability in investigative services, especially when supported by strong public trust, to enhance public satisfaction with law enforcement performance