Community Service Officer

Representative Duties

Under general supervision, performs a wide variety of specialized and technical non-sworn law enforcement duties in support of Police Department operations and services including to respond to priority and non-priority calls for service; provides information and assistance to the general public and answers citizen inquiries; may develop, coordinate, and conduct crime prevention programs and activities for the Police Department; make public presentations to community groups and facilitate crime prevention efforts by responding appropriately to problems of citizens and involving them in the resolution; prepares for and participates in community events to support and build community partnerships; performs a variety of other non-sworn law enforcement, clerical, and administrative functions in support of Police Department services and activities not requiring Peace Officer status. Incumbents in this classification may be assigned to various service areas of the Police Department including, but not limited to: Patrol Services, Traffic, Investigations, Community Resources (Crime Prevention), and Professional Standards. Job duties may vary based on assignment.

• Performs a variety of specialized and technical non-sworn law enforcement duties in support of Police Department operations and services including to respond to priority and non-priority for service in-lieu of a Police Officer.
• Responds to dispatched calls for service; investigates and completes reports related to "cold" calls including those involving missing persons, burglaries, vandalism, grand/petty theft, financial crimes, stolen/recovered vehicles, fraud, lost/stolen property, found property, vandalism/graffiti, and harassing phone calls/threats; conducts neighborhood canvasses and interviews victims and witnesses; assists in searching for people or items of evidence; conducts non-hazardous follow-up to assist detectives with criminal investigations.
• Responds to dispatched calls for injury and non-injury traffic collisions; administers first aid as necessary; conducts investigations including to interview parties and witnesses and complete investigative reports; assigns fault and issues citations to violators.
• Processes crime scenes for potential evidence; identifies, documents, photographs, preserves, collects and books evidence; dusts for, collects, and books latent fingerprints; photographs and takes measurements of traffic collision scenes; responds to scenes with officers for photographing victims or processing evidence when Forensic Technician is unavailable.
• Performs a variety of duties to enforce specific sections of the California Vehicle Codes municipal ordinances; responds to reports of abandoned vehicles and neighborhood parking complaints; proactively patrols City to enforce parking codes and regulations; identifies parking violations and issues warnings and citations as applicable; tows vehicles as required; advises the general public on laws and regulations affecting parking.
• Responds to and provides traffic control at various incidents including at potentially hazardous situations, traffic accidents, crime scenes, fires, funerals, special events, and during power outages and weather related incidents.
• Provides information and assistance to the general public; answers citizen inquiries and responds to complaints and requests for services from other department staff, the general public, other law enforcement agencies, and other agencies; provides information to violators, the general public, businesses, school communities, and other government agencies regarding codes, laws, and ordinances as well as department services, programs, and practices; gives station tours.
• Performs a variety of related functions in support of the Police Department services and activities; provides training to new personnel related to area of assignment; attends community meetings; deploys and retrieves radar speed trailer to and from various locations; participates in DUI checkpoints to assist with towing impounded vehicles; patrols streets and parking lots in marked patrol vehicle to show a "police presence," issues tow releases; signs-off on "fix-it" citations; issues administrative warnings and citations to violators of municipal codes; assists with special projects as assigned.
• Responds to calls for loose, injured, or deceased animals as necessary.10. Collects, processes when needed, and books into evidence found and recovered property.
• Maintains various logs and records; gathers information and prepares routine reports as assigned; enters, inputs, and retrieves a variety of information using a computer terminal.
• Testifies in court regarding citations issued for violations committed leading up to traffic collisions; testifies in juvenile and/or superior court regarding crime reports and crime scene evidence processing; testifies at civil depositions.
• May promote, implement, and maintain activities in the community including Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch programs, Stranger Danger, Personal Safety, ID/Fraud prevention, Safety for Seniors, and related programs; encourages residents to take an active role in the community by attending meetings with the residents and business owners to provide information on ways to deter, identify, and report crimes.
• Prepares and participates in community events to develop strong police-community partnerships within the community; provides information and resources to the community; may coordinate staffing for community events.
• Identifies problems in the community; collects information regarding the event or recurring problem and works with available resources to resolve the issue; follows up to determine if the plan was successful.
• Orders and maintains promotional items as needed for the Police Department.
• Educates the residents of the City about Child Passenger Safety through child passenger safety inspections and instructions.
• Provides security surveys for businesses and residents to identify potential security issues and encourage proactive safety practices.
• Develops and presents new public safety programs to the public on a variety of topics; creates brochures and Power Point presentations on various crime prevention topics.
• Performs a variety of administrative duties related public safety programs/activities including updating and maintaining assigned databases; updates the Police Department community calendar to provide staff with current information regarding upcoming events.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Basic law enforcement theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Standard law enforcement information, communications, and record keeping terminology.
• Principles and techniques of traffic control.
• Basic interviewing methods and principles.
• Principles, practices, and safe work methods used in collecting, processing, logging, storing, and safeguarding evidence, property, and materials including hazardous materials.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations and department rules, policies, and procedures.
• Self-defense principles and practices.
• Safe work methods and safety regulations pertaining to the work including officer safety standards and safe driving principles and practices.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Automated law enforcement information systems and procedures.
• Public and agency desk procedures and methods for providing services and information including those related to collecting, maintaining, and releasing information, files, and documents.
• Law enforcement record keeping and records management principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Research and report writing techniques.
• Methods and techniques used in customer service and public relations.
• Methods and techniques of public speaking and instruction.
• Principles and practices of record keeping and reporting.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Geographic features and locations within the area served.
• Standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
  

• Additionally required for assignment to Crime Prevention:

Crime prevention techniques, principles, practices, and systems.
Local community programs and services.Methods and techniques of safety and security issues as well as contemporary crime trends and solutions.

Ability to:

• Perform a full range of non-sworn law enforcement activities; exercise independent judgment and work with a minimum of supervision.
• Learn methods and techniques related to basic police functions.
• Understand the organization, operation, and services of the City, the Police Department, and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations including vehicle codes, penal codes, and municipal codes.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Observe, assimilate, remember, and record pertinent facts and details.
• Prepare clear, concise, factual, and thorough reports and statements.
• Maintain, file, and index a variety of reports, records, and other written materials.
• Direct and control traffic during special events or other emergency situations.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer and various software packages.
• Operate specialized automated law enforcement information and communication systems including public safety computer systems to access and maintain data.
• Operate assigned vehicle in a safe manner.
• Use and operate assigned tools and equipment including two-way radios, cell phones, electronic ticket writer, pepper spray, camera, and evidence/fingerprint kit.
• Exercise good judgment in maintaining critical and sensitive information, records, and reports.
• Use sound judgment in following and applying appropriate laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Analyze situations and adopt a course of action.
• Exercise tact and judgment in responding to inquiries and resolving complaints and problems.
• Remain calm under emergency situations.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public and law enforcement personnel.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public and other City departments.
• Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person.
• Organize and prioritize work assignments.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Type and enter data accurately at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
• Work irregular and on-call hours including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Additionally required for assignment to Crime Prevention:

• Prepare effective literature on crime prevention.
• Reach a substantial public audience and increase crime prevention awareness.
• Adapt quickly to any situation and handle situations that arise at the last minute or on short notice.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:
Completion of the twelfth grade or equivalent. Specialized clerical or law enforcement training is highly desirable.

Experience:
Two years of increasingly responsible work experience that involved a high level of public contact. Prior law enforcement or code enforcement experience is highly desirable.

License or Certificate:

Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

• Additionally required for assignment to Crime Prevention:
• Possession of a Basic Crime Prevention certificate (to be obtained within 12 months of assignment to Crime Prevention). 
• Possession of a Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) certificated (to be obtained within 12 months of assignment to Crime Prevention).