Community Safety Officer

Community Safety Officer

This is a part-time position limited to a maximum of 19 hours per week. The City anticipates filling both a regularly scheduled part-time position and establishing an eligibility list for on-call, as-needed coverage to support operational needs. About Us: Lomita is a small-town community in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, known for our friendly atmosphere and strong commitment to public service. Guided by a citywide mission to foster healthy, safe, and welcoming environments, the City emphasizes professionalism, respect, innovation, and community well-being in all our operations. With a focus on high-quality service and embodying a collaborative, resident-centered approach, Lomita offers our employees the opportunity to contribute directly to a close-knit municipal organization. The formal job description is as follows: Under general direction, the Community Safety Officer performs technical, non-sworn law enforcement and customer service work; to patrol streets and neighborhoods to identify and enforce parking code violations; to provide traffic and crowd control at various incidents and events; to provide information and assistance to citizens; to assist sworn law enforcement staff as requested with non-emergency tasks and reports; and to perform other related duties as assigned. An incumbent in this class receives direct supervision from the Community Safety Supervisor. Exercises no direct supervision over staff but may assist in training new or less experienced Community Safety Officers. This is the journey-level class in the Public Safety series. Positions are allocated to the Community Safety Division. Incumbents perform technical, non-sworn law enforcement work requiring knowledge of basic law enforcement principles and practices as well as City codes and ordinances. May work a varying schedule of hours which may include early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Examples of Duties

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Patrols all areas of the City, including parks, neighborhoods, business district, alleys, and other City facilities looking for parking and code enforcement violations.
• Reports hazardous, unsafe or irregular condition within the patrol area.
• Responds to citizen complaints regarding illegally parked vehicles.
• Performs technical, non-sworn law enforcement and customer service work to help address citizen concerns and provide support for sworn law enforcement staff.
• Provides information, direction, and assistance to the public and local merchants.
• Writes reports, appears in court as needed.
• Issues notices of violation, parking citations, and tags vehicles for towing in accordance with California vehicle codes;
• Conduct special patrols as requested by citizens to monitor neighborhood safety.
• Enforces park rules, City ordinances, laws, and regulations.
• Conducts general crowd control, reviews permits, monitors parks, and other City facilities for irregularities or unauthorized use.
• Receives non-emergency complaints and provides information regarding City code requirements and department policies;
• Attends neighborhood and community meetings as assigned; provide guidance and information to residents regarding Neighborhood Watch programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge of:

• General security practices and patrol procedures.
• Effective customer service techniques
• Basic principles, practices, terminology and techniques of non-sworn law enforcement, including vehicle code violations.
• Principles and practices of public relations and customer service.
• Laws, regulations, standards and requirements applicable to assigned programs and functions.
• Methods and limitations of non-sworn law enforcement activities in a field environment.
• Methods and techniques of researching California codes and City ordinances.
• Record-keeping and report preparation techniques.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Methods of effectively managing time and organizing work.
• Effectively utilize modern office equipment, including personal computers and standard business software such as the Microsoft Office Suite.

Ability to:

• Perform a variety of non-sworn law enforcement duties, including parking enforcement, crowd control, routine patrolling and incident documentation.
• Learn, interpret and explain applicable laws, codes, rules, ordinances and regulations, including various criminal codes, vehicle codes and City ordinances.
• Adjust to rapidly shifting priorities and timelines.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
• Maintain required confidentiality of documents and records.
• Determine appropriate action within clearly defined guidelines.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Operate a variety of office equipment including a calculator, copier, fax machine, computer and assigned software.
• Operate a two-way radio using appropriate terminology, codes and language.
• Gather accurate information through interviews and inquiries.
• Safely operate one or more types of vehicles, if required by assignments.
• Interact with the public using tact, patience and courtesy.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Education :

• Equivalent to graduation from high school or possess a GED certificate. College coursework in criminal justice, paralegal studies, business administration, public administration, or a related field is desired.

Experience: At least one year of recent, paid work experience involving substantial public contact.

Licenses and Certifications: Possession of a valid California Driver's License, to be maintained throughout employment.

Other Requirements: Must successfully pass a pre-employment physical examination and Live Scan background check.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS When assigned to an office environment, must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone; ability to stand and walk between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. When performing field duties, may frequently drive, must possess mobility to work in changing site conditions; possess the strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light to medium physical work; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, and bend, to climb and descend ladders; and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various City sites; vision to inspect site conditions and remedial work. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards, with exposure to hazardous materials in some site locations. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 40 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees also work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace: The City of Lomita is a drug- and alcohol-free workplace. Employment in this classification is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening and compliance with City policies and applicable state and federal law.