Sheriff's Community Services Officer

Sheriff's Community Services Officer

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization. This recruitment is open to the public and will remain open on a continuous basis until the needs of the Department are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. This recruitment is being held to establish an open Eligible List to fill vacancies in this class until the next recruitment.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is among the largest in the nation, providing exemplary law enforcement services focused on a collaborative, dedicated and innovative approach to public safety. Our nearly 4,000 sworn and professional staff are committed to serving the needs of Orange County through six organizational Commands comprised of 23 Divisions. Together, these Commands and Divisions provide services including land, air and sea-based patrol, custody operations, investigative services, emergency management, coroner services, forensics, and specialty operations, among an extensive list of other public safety services.

Sheriff's Community Services Officers (CSO) are uniformed personnel that perform various routine law enforcement-related tasks that do not require the authority of a peace officer. A CSO may be required to work either inside a substation or outside in the field. Front desk duties include providing members of the public with information, assisting department personnel with information and equipment requests, registration of sex and arson offenders, and other duties as required. Equipment Room duties include checking in and checking out equipment; generating past due reports; making sure shotguns are in working order; downloading tasers and generating taser download reports; assigning USB PVS keys; researching and making copies of PVS requests for DA's, sergeants, deputies and Internal Affairs; research and copy PAS log requests; changing out media cards; calling in trouble tickets for MDC repairs; replacing key tags; making new barcodes; replenishing mouth pieces for our PAS devices and assigning lockers among other duties. Through the Community Work Program, the CSO duties include supervising a work crew who does the cleaning and manual labor projects for the substation. Outside field duties include taking reports at traffic accident scenes, coordinating the disposal of abandoned vehicles, issuing citations for parking violations and other infractions, and other duties as assigned. Incumbents will be required to work a variety of rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in a law enforcement agency, the ability to remain calm and work effectively in stressful and emotional or emergency situations, the ability to deal with emotional and/or hostile members of the public, the ability to multitask, and possess a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

General knowledge of: Have a basic understanding of law enforcement activities, radio codes, navigate using common tools (Maps, GPS, etc.)

Ability to: Develop rapport and obtain cooperation from crime victims, witnesses and informants; Obtain complete and relevant information from interviewees to complete incident and crime reports; Prepare clear and accurate reports; Speak and write clearly and concisely; Read, understand and interpret moderately complex laws, rules, directives and other written material; Safely operate a marked and unmarked police vehicle(s) in all weather and traffic conditions; Find obscure addresses and locations; Learn to complete traffic reports to include diagrams with law enforcement narratives

Education and Experience: One (1) year of experience to include, working in a law enforcement capacity, exposing them to law enforcement activities, radio transmissions, navigational experience (Map or GPS), documentation of activities and the ability to multi-task. Education or training which is directly related to these knowledge and abilities may be substituted for up to six (6) months of the required experience, on the basis of two semester units for one month of experience or one hour of training for one hour of experience.

License/Certification: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver License is required before the date of appointment and while employed in this classification.

Special Requirements: To be selected for a position with the Orange County Sheriff's Department applicants must not have been convicted of a felony or be on any form of probation and must pass a comprehensive background investigation to satisfaction of Sheriff-Coroner Department. Background screening includes completing of a Personal History Form, interview with a background investigator, fingerprinting and may include a polygraph test. Some of the areas considered in the background screening include prior convictions, traffic violations, drug use and credit history, employment history, professional references and education verification (i.e. degree, license, or official transcripts. Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credentials Services (N.A.C.E.S.). The County of Orange is committed to providing a means for applicants who may have a disability to identify areas in which they may request a reasonable accommodation. Applicants are encouraged to contact the recruiter listed below for any questions or to request an accommodation during the selection process.

Physical and Mental Requirements: Vision Acuity to see distances over/under 20 feet, use both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and utilize field equipment. Incumbents must have independent body mobility to stand, walk, bend, twist, squat, grasp (simple, power, precision), reach below and above shoulder; twisting and bending at the waist; continuously extend neck upwards, downwards, or side-to-side and the ability to push, pull, grip. In addition, incumbents might climb stairs, balance, crouch, kneel, squat, stoop; sit and stand for prolonged periods; use fine manipulation and ability to carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Ability to read, write and comprehend; speak and hear well enough to communicate and take direction, converse in person and telephone. Ability to independently reason and analyze data, make calculations and decisions, recommendations, reach objective conclusions, deescalate situations in a calm manner, perform routine, complex, and varied tasks. Ability to interact with others in written form; work under stressful conditions including conflict resolutions, deadlines, and competing priorities. Ability to direct, control and plan as well as influence people.

Environmental and Working Conditions: Works outdoors, subject to fluctuating weather conditions. May be subject to high levels of noise, operating a computer, may work indoors cold, heat, and/or humidity conditions; work around moving objects, machinery, and vehicles. May be required to drive a county vehicle or use county-approved means of transportation for job-related travel. May be exposed to communicable disease, animals, firearms, chemicals oils or pesticides, fumes, gases, offensive odors, toxic materials. May require the use of vest, gloves, and mask.

Recruitment Process: Sheriff Human Resources screens all applications to identify the most qualified candidates for the position based on the skills required to meet the needs of the Department. After the initial screening, the qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Selection Procedures: Applications must emphasize all the areas in which the applicant has expertise and accomplishments in the specific competencies related to the position. Structured Oral Panel Interview (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidates' qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list. Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List: After all procedures have been completed, the Sheriff Human Resources will establish an eligible list of qualified candidates.

Veterans Employment Preference Policy (VEPP): The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to review the policy.

How to Apply: Only on-line applications will be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of online applications. Application information must be current, succinct and related to the requirements in this job announcement. Please note that email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is on your application and only use one email account.