Community Service Officer (CSO)

Summary:

A Community Services Officer (CSO) is a City of Nome sworn position to assist sworn police officers in daily operations. A CSO will assist intoxicated and incapacitated persons, and actively patrol the City of Nome looking for individuals needing assistance. A CSO will implement community policing standards and is not to be seen as an enforcer of law, but a guardian of the community. A CSO can investigate curfew violations, underage tobacco violations, and assist on minor misdemeanor cases. A CSO will enforce the Nome Municipal Code.

Duties shall consist of providing emergency medical care or requesting the dispatch of such resources. Duties may be assigned by a Sergeant or higher rank. CSO’s are distinguished from Police Officers in that the CSO is not armed with a firearm and exempt from portions of the selection criteria for police officers and is not certified by the Alaska Police Standards Council. (APSC)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responds and investigates Calls for Service by the public and other duties dispatched to them by the Nome 911 Center.
• Aids all sworn staff with cases they are working.
• Testify in court proceedings with required.
• Preventative patrol and pro-active policing to reduce the commission of crime and assist others.
• Facilitate the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic when needed.
• Create and maintain the feeling of security in the community by interacting and being visible.
• Complete accurate police supplements when necessarily.
• Complete accurate citations when necessary.
• Maintain a clean and organized CSO vehicle.
• Utilize radio and proper radio etiquette.
• Moderately use the departments Records Management System.
• Other duties as assigned by a Sergeant or higher rank.

Skills, Abilities, Qualification Requirements:

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks when appropriate.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Considerable knowledge of Nome City Code.
• Ability to learn, apply laws, rules, and regulations. Follow oral and written instructions. Observe and record situations and logically think out situations. Communicate clearly and effectively.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years applicable college education or relevant experience. Or two years military experience with honorable discharge.

Specific Skills and Abilities to the Job:

• Must possess or be able to obtain within (30) thirty days of hire, a valid State of Alaska driver’s license.
• Must qualify with required tools such as Taser, upon initial hire, and annually thereafter.
• A background investigation and standards to be set by the City of Nome, no serious criminal history.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

The employee is required to stand; run; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Public Relations:

Public relations shall be an integral part of each employee's job. Employees shall be courteous, helpful and conduct themselves in a manner which is appropriate for an employee and public service.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. May be involved in hazardous conditions, extreme physical effort in dealing with armed and dangerous persons with required by duties in high stress situations. This position is full time, and employee may be required to work holidays, overtime, or report to work on short notice. There is high level of contact with the public.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job. Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.