Community Services Officer

Positions assigned to this class are civilian positions that provide law enforcement support, performing various duties that include responding to police dispatch-based calls for service, conducting investigations, and writing reports for calls not requiring sworn police officer presence.The following are intended to describe core work functions of this classification. While the level and broad nature of essential duties may not change, specific work tasks may vary over time depending on the City’s needs.

• Respond to non-emergency calls for service including minor motor vehicle collisions, minor criminal reports, and walk-in citizen complaints and crime reports at the public safety front lobby. 
• Work with sworn personnel and city employees assisting with various low-priority calls and citizen assists. 
• May provide field services related to animal control calls, including capturing domestic and wild animals and removing animals from a variety of hazardous situations.
• Conduct interviews by telephone, or in person, with victims of crimes, witnesses, or reporting persons; determine type of crime and details to complete a comprehensive report of the incident. 
• Research information utilizing numerous databases including but not limited to warrant checks, criminal history, and driver license checks. 
• Interview victims, witnesses, and reporting parties to obtain information necessary to conduct a complete and thorough investigation. 
• Communicate verbally and in writing with department and city staff, various agencies, and the public. 
• Respond to inquiries and provide information on policies, procedures, ordinances, laws and resolve questions or issues related to area of assignment. 
• May collect, preserve, log, and secure evidence; document all handling of evidence and property. 
• May serve subpoenas, summons, and other legal papers. 
• May provide court and criminal investigation testimony as necessary. 
• Support the city’s policies, goals, and objectives and work with management and other staff to ethically achieve such goals and objectives; ensure compliance with safety procedures.

Education and Experience
Must possess a high school diploma or GED, and one (1) year paid, fulltime experience in law enforcement, or reasonable customer service or citizen assistance experience in a police agency or related environment; or college coursework in Criminal Justice or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and experience.Knowledge

• City, State, Federal, and department procedures, policies and guidelines; city code; chain-of-command protocol; Arizona Revised Statutes. 
• Methods and techniques of investigative interviewing; legal procedure of collecting, handling and preserving various types of evidence. 
• Basic report writing and preparation methods.

Skills

• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with coworkers and other individuals in contact with during the course of work; communicating clearly and concisely; following instructions. 
• Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software including Microsoft Office, AFIS, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Arizona Criminal Justice Information System (ACIJIS) and Records Management System (RMS). 
• Working semi-independent with sound decision-making abilities. 
• Maintaining effective working relationships with other city departments, outside agencies, city employees, and other members of the criminal justice system.

Pre-employment Requirements
Candidates who are selected for appointment may be fingerprinted, if 18 or older; successfully complete a background investigation, employment verification and may be subject to a drug/alcohol test, medical, polygraph and/or psychological evaluation. Candidates who are appointed will be required to possess a valid driver’s license to operate a vehicle in Arizona, or meet the transportation needs of the position.

Physical Demands and Work Environment
Work is performed in a standard office environment and outdoors. May require frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, lifting up to 50 pounds, sitting, repetitive motions, and operation of a personal computer. May be subject to hazardous physical conditions, atmosphere conditions, hazardous materials, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions of movement, and intense noise. Requires operation of a city vehicle.