Community Service Officer

Job Description

Job Description

WORK OBJECTIVE

Develops and maintains positive relationships with neighborhood organizations and residents in an effort to increase community-police cooperation and to promote crime prevention and safety theories and practices that can be implemented in communities to deter criminal activity. Serves in a para-police capacity, assists sworn officers with various duties, respond to traffic accidents and parking violations, and performs other non-emergency calls for assistance. Work is performed in accordance with standard departmental procedures and under general supervision, and involves some exercise of independent judgment and initiative.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Receives and responds to citizen inquiries, complaints and requests for assistance, providing information and referring citizens to community resources and individuals or agencies that can provide further assistance as needed.
• Performs various public service duties including directing traffic on streets, roadways, intersections, school crossings, and during special events.
• Assists sworn officers with various duties as assigned.
• Responds to non-emergency calls for assistance.
• Promotes vehicular and pedestrian safety; enforces traffic and parking ordinances including responding to minor traffic accidents, and issuing citations and tickets as appropriate; and reports unsafe road conditions.
• Processes basic crime scenes for fingerprints and collection of evidence.
• Assists in preparing cases for court and provides court testimony and depositions as required.
• Assists the criminal investigations division with follow-ups as requested.
• Assists with criminal history research and arrest fingerprint cards.
• Provides police escort, assists stranded motorists, performs crowd control at City events, performs community relations activities, etc.
• Prepares written reports, forms, records, tickets, etc. using proper grammar and spelling.
• Processes and inputs data accurately into the FCIC/NCIC terminal.
• Performs filing and paperwork retention.
• Performs other duties as directed by a supervisor or a command officer.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• High school diploma or equivalent with two (2) years of related experience.
• Requires flexible hours, which includes weekends, holidays and various shifts.
• Available for recall to duty in times of emergency or staffing shortages.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (both reading and writing) is highly desirable but not required.
• Successfully pass a Police background investigation, including a polygraph exam.
• Successfully complete a writing skills test.
• Successfully complete required training program for this position.
• Maintain a valid Florida driver’s license.
• Possess or obtain FCIC/NCIC certification within 6 months of employment.
• No misdemeanor convictions involving moral character, perjury, or false statements and no police record or involvement in any situations involving moral turpitude.
• No tobacco usage of any kind within the past one (1) year and no drug usage within the past three (3) years.
• Reside within thirty-five (35) driven miles of the police station throughout career as determined by MapQuest or Google Maps commencing on the date of employment.

Exceptions to the minimum qualifications must be reviewed by the Human Resources Manager and approved by the City Manager prior to job offer.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to maintain professionalism, composure, use excellent judgement and discretion, react quickly, and work effectively under stressful conditions and emergency situations.
• Ability to build, maintain, and utilize professional relationships with Community Groups, Neighborhood Watch, and other agencies.
• Ability to conduct motor vehicle accident investigations with minimal supervision.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, citizens, etc.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions while successfully multi-tasking and prioritizing workload.
• Ability to read legal books, ordinances, maps, policy and procedure manuals, warrants, criminal records.
• Knowledge of geography and boundaries of the City of Winter Garden.
• Knowledge of police management and supervisory techniques.
• Skilled in the use of modern computer equipment, police radio, telephones and other office equipment.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and court procedures.
• Knowledge of basic life saving techniques including first aid and CPR.