Community Service Officer

Overview

The City of Santa Cruz is recruiting Community Service Officer candidates. The department emphasizes innovative community-based policing, critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving. You will work with a diverse community and participate in state-of-the-art training with opportunities to make a difference in the community. The Community Service Officer is a non-sworn position and does not require prior law enforcement experience. The Santa Cruz Police Department serves a community of over 65,000 residents, with population increases in the summer months.

The City promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in recruitment, hiring and retention practices.

• Assist sworn officers by performing lower-risk police department functions and public contact work in crime prevention.
• Write police reports and perform low-risk investigations, including interviews and evidence processing.
• Coordinate documents and organize investigative information and evidence for prosecution and laboratory analysis.
• Handle emergency and non-emergency calls, and perform follow-up with involved parties on crime reports.
• Participate in general patrol duties as a crime deterrent and provide information to the public and merchants.
• Enforce municipal codes, issue warnings or citations, maintain a uniformed presence, and present crime prevention information.
• Assist with vehicle abatement duties, traffic control at events, and non-hazardous crowd control as appropriate.
• Appear in court as necessary and assist in related duties as assigned.

• High school graduation or tested equivalent.

• Verbal and written communication to take information by phone or in person and to communicate with the public.
• Organizational skills to gather and coordinate data.

• Understand and follow verbal and written instructions; write clear, concise reports.
• Listen effectively and communicate via police radio; interact respectfully with diverse communities.
• Establish cooperative working relationships and maintain accurate records; read maps and maps information.
• Explain regulations, codes and procedures clearly and learn to diagram, photograph or video-record crime scenes.
• Learn to interview victims and witnesses and operate word processing equipment.
• Work independently and meet deadlines; pass a thorough background investigation, psychological and medical examinations.

• Wear a uniform; carry a baton, chemical agent, Taser, handcuffs and radio as required.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed; attend community service officer training academy.

• Possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and a safe driving record.
• Completion of POST 832 PC – Powers of Arrest Course within three months of hire.

• Experience or education related to law enforcement; bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• CPR/First Aid certification;
  Private Security Officer License and Private Security Baton License (CA).
• Typing skills 45 wpm; POST 832 PC certification.

The information in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute a contract. Applicants must submit required materials and test results (POST PELLETB t-score of 46.0 or higher) with their application. The process may include application screening, an Oral Interview Panel, background investigation and polygraph examination, medical examination, and interviews with department leadership.