Community Services Officer

The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions in the Sheriff's Office, should they occur. Pursuant to current bargaining unit agreements, employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium.

Under general supervision, performs a wide variety of non-sworn work supporting divisions of the Sheriff’s Office with clerical and technical duties; provides information to law enforcement personnel and to the general public, and community engagement and outreach.

Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Se buscan personas bilingües en inglés y español. Para recibir una solicitud en español, llame a Recursos Humanos al 234-6600.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Prepare and maintain accurate and detailed logs, reports and records, including but not limited to incident, property or intake reports and records.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information in accordance with laws, regulations, departmental and county policies.
• File, organize, and maintains documentation in accordance with departmental policy.
• Apply knowledge of enforcement and procedural aspects of criminal law and the legal obligations inherent in enforcement of those laws.
• Provide security at special events, crime scene, and/or conduct and monitor surveillance systems, alarms or facility access points and security of hospital detainees, as assigned. Report any suspicious behavior to sworn staff.
• Understand and respect the legal rights and responsibilities of all individuals, including themselves and other law enforcement personnel, the public, crime victims, suspects, and the specialized considerations for juveniles, individuals with disabilities, and other protected classes.
• Report administrative and/or operational issues to supervisor
• May serve as back-up to other local law enforcement agencies.
• May provide emergency aid and assistance to incapacitated persons and request additional response from emergency personnel and or law enforcement.
• May provide testimony in Court as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

When Assigned to Patrol:

• Provide general law enforcement services and assists Deputy Sheriff’s in enforcement activities which may include control of crime scene, and assist with investigations.
• Assist with the preparation and documentation of cases.
• Accompany Deputy Sheriff on patrol of assigned areas to ensure the security of life and property, observe situations and deter crime by providing high visibility.
• Accompany Deputy Sheriff in response to suspicious activities and answer emergency calls for service.
• Assist with coordination of crime scene control and investigation, including interviews and interrogations, identification of witnesses, and collection and preservation of physical evidence.
• Assist with the investigation of traffic accidents and provide traffic and crowd control as necessary.
• Assist with coroner’s investigations, to include documenting scenes, taking photographs, completing necessary paperwork, obtaining records, and booking or releasing of property and evidence.
• Investigate and enforce County Code and ordinance violations as assigned.
• Investigate and remove abandoned vehicles as assigned.
• Monitor, direct and control routine and unusual traffic conditions.
• May serve civil papers and subpoenas to County residents; research and locate person to be served.
• May retrieve, identify and return found property and/or evidence to owners.
• Perform live scan fingerprinting.

When Assigned to Corrections:

• Log arrested person property for safe keeping
• Communicate with arrested person to obtain updated information (e.g., personal, contact, housing, date of birth, social security number, and physical descriptors like eye color, hair color, etc.).
• Update incarcerated person(s) record(s) and information
• Process incoming arrestees at the county jail; including entering of criminal charges, bail or citation information, schedule court proceedings as prescribed by various jurisdictions, research and apply warrant information to profiles.
• Process incarcerated persons or arrested person being released from the county jail as prescribed by bail schedule, court orders, and cites/citation
• Coordinate county jail visitation scheduling, including personal visits and professional visits, such as attorneys, social workers, etc...
• Interview, screen and greet visitors and incarcerated person(s); directs them to the appropriate area or individual; may respond to various inquiries related to department services and functions.
• Answer multi-line telephones system, takes messages, forwards calls appropriately, directly answer questions from the public, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and allied agencies as appropriate.
• Operate control board; answers intercom calls from staff and incarcerated person(s), opens and closes jail doors when appropriate, coordinates incarcerated person(s) and staff movement in a safe manner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Education and Experience:

High School diploma or GED; and,

One year of progressively responsible related experience (clerical or administrative support in a law enforcement or public safety agency, jail or correctional facility operations, community outreach, security services, property and evidence handling, or other public contact work involving the interpretation and application of policies, laws, or procedures); or, 

A combination of related education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Licenses and Certifications:

Valid Driver’s License

Incumbents must possess and maintain, or obtain and maintain, all licenses, certifications, registrations, and/or other requirements identified in the minimum qualifications, as applicable, and within the timeframes specified. These requirements are conditions of continued employment and minimum qualifications for the position. Failure to possess, obtain, or maintain any required license, certification, registration, or other requirement within the specified timeframe may result in rejection during the probationary period, or disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Knowledge of:

• Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts.
• Techniques for dealing with people of all socio-economic levels under hostile and emergency situations.
• Safety practices and precautions pertaining to the work.
• First aid methods and applications.
• Recordkeeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary. 
• Operations and functions of the Sheriff’s Office and other public safety agencies.
• All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.

• Using tact, discretion, and initiative within established guidelines. 
• Observing and accurately recalling places, names, descriptive characteristics and facts of incidents.
• Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials. 
• Making sound independent judgments within legal and procedural guidelines.
• Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials.  
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Manage time effectively with proper organizational techniques to meet appropriate deadlines of the job.
• Multitasking multiple assignments and priorities simultaneously, to include handling priority tasks and keeping track of less urgent matters to be handled at a later time.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing. 

Mental and Physical Abilities:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
• Ability to speak effectively before public groups and respond to questions.
• Ability to think and act quickly during emergency situations.
• While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Wear a utility belt weighing up to 15 pounds with assigned gear/equipment.

Important Application Information:

• It is your responsibility to demonstrate through your application materials how you meet the minimum qualifications of the position/s for which you apply. 
• You must complete all sections of the application.  A résumé or other information you feel will help us evaluate your qualifications may be attached to your completed application, but will not be accepted in lieu of completing any part of the application.  Blank applications that contain only a résumé or those that reference “see résumé” will be rejected as incomplete.
• Check your application before submitting to ensure it is complete and correct; no new or additional information will be accepted after the closing date.
• Inquiry will be made of your former and current employers; please provide the names and telephone numbers of supervisors on your application. 
• You must provide the names and contact information of at least three (3) references (not relatives) that have knowledge of your job skills, experience, ability and/or character. 
• Application materials are the property of Mendocino County and will not be returned.
• It is your responsibility to keep your NEOGOV profile updated, including any changes to your telephone number or address. Failure to do so may result in missed notification of exams or interviews.
• The exam process listed on this flyer is tentative. Mendocino County reserves the right to make necessary modifications to the examination plan. Such revisions will be in accordance with approved personnel standards.  Should a change be made, applicants will be notified.
• The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

Examination Process: All complete applications will be reviewed; incomplete applications will not be considered. Based on the number of qualified candidates, applicants meeting the job requirements and qualifications will be invited to participate in an oral examination (weight 100) or an application appraisal exam, consisting of an evaluation of education and experience as stated on the application form. The examination process will test the knowledge and abilities described above. A minimum score of 70 must be attained for placement on the employment list. 

Special Testing: The County of Mendocino is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.  In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), if special accommodations for a disability or religious conviction are necessary at any stage of the application and/or testing process, please notify the Human Resources Department in advance at (707) 234-6600.  Reasonable notice is required to allow adequate time for review and evaluation of your request.

Special Requirements: Employment in some County departments or positions may require the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background, which may include fingerprinting, and/or a medical examination, which may include drug screening.

This announcement is a synopsis of duties and requirements of this job. To review the complete classification specification and benefits, please see the HR website. Applications must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by the final filing date.   

The County of Mendocino participates in the E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility. If hired, the information you provide on your Form I-9 will be used to verify your authorization to work in the United States.

Learn more:

• E-Verify Notice of Participation(Download PDF reader)
• Right to Work(Download PDF reader)

The County of Mendocino is an Equal Opportunity Employer