Community Service Officer

City of Riverside•Riverside, CA

About The Position

The City of Riverside Police Department is hiring Community Service Officers to fill a current patrol division vacancy and establish an eligibility list that may be used for current or future vacancies in this classification, in the patrol division or elsewhere in the department. Community Service Officers provide specialized paraprofessional and technical civilian police support across department divisions and serve as a liaison between the Police Department and Riverside residents, visitors, and business operators. This is a journey-level classification requiring working knowledge of laws, codes, regulations, department policies and procedures, and modern office procedures. Incumbents use independent judgment and may assist in training other civilian personnel. Assignments may involve varied shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The work includes records and report processing, public-facing police support, patrol and traffic duties, crime-scene and investigative assistance, community safety and crime-prevention programs, and administrative support. Work may take place in a standard office environment and/or in the field, with exposure to bodily fluids, chemicals, tools, and potentially hazardous conditions. Employees interact with the public and representatives of public and private organizations, providing professional customer and crime-related service. The position requires climbing stairs and lifting items weighing up to 50 pounds. Applicants must have a high school graduation or satisfactory equivalent (GED), at least one year of qualifying public-contact experience, and a valid Class C California driver’s license. Candidates must pass a thorough police background investigation before appointment. Appointment may also be subject to a drug screen and/or medical or physical examination. Other licenses or certifications may be required depending on assignment. Candidates must be legally authorized to work permanently in the United States without employment-based visa sponsorship, subject to the stated USMCA TN exception. The selection process begins with application package screening and may include written, performance, and oral assessments. Successful candidates are placed on an eligibility list.

Requirements

High school graduation or satisfactory equivalent (GED).
At least one year of responsible public-contact experience in enforcement of public laws, ordinances, rules, or guidelines in a law-enforcement environment, code enforcement, community-park patrol, police-oriented public support, or security patrol and protective services.
Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.
Ability to pass a thorough and extensive police background investigation before appointment.
Ability to climb stairs and lift items up to 50 pounds.
Ability to provide professional customer and crime-related service while interacting with staff and public and private representatives.
Legal authorization to work permanently in the United States without employment-based visa sponsorship, except for the stated USMCA TN nonimmigrant classification exception.

Nice To Haves

Ability to work a 4/10 schedule and potentially work days, nights, holidays, or weekends.
Willingness to work field operations or patrol.
Prior experience taking crime reports and knowledge of Penal and Vehicle Codes.
Experience performing crime-scene investigations, including latent fingerprinting and evidence collection.
Experience assisting with traffic control and other assigned field-operations support duties.

Responsibilities

Process and prioritize arrest reports for assignment, assist with arrest packages, and follow up on cases returned by the District Attorney’s Office for additional information.
Assist records personnel with permits and licenses; manage the security alarm system, including permits, payments, and inquiries.
Fingerprint, photograph, and interview drug, sex, and arson registrants and suspects; create and maintain registrant files and update records.
Provide information to the public and other agencies consistent with applicable laws and department policy; search, retrieve, update, purge, and research law-enforcement records and databases.
Patrol an assigned City area; train and direct Police Cadets, Crossing Guards, and Volunteers; participate in related activities as needed.
Issue citations or warnings for California Vehicle Code and parking-control violations; impound illegally parked or abandoned vehicles; inspect vehicles and sign off on citations.
Respond to minor traffic calls; conduct limited crime- or accident-scene investigations; collect evidence, impound vehicles at accident scenes, and gather traffic statistics.
Respond to and assist at crime scenes by taking photographs, lifting latent fingerprints, collecting and processing evidence, and supporting criminal investigations through follow-up calls, database searches, and interviews.
Collect and manage missing-person, juvenile, runaway, and other police reports.
Conduct home, business, and industry security inspections and identify security problems or conditions that may attract criminal activity.
Conduct public presentations and prepare audiovisual materials; coordinate and participate in police awareness programs for schools, public events, and other City services.
Organize neighborhood watch groups, maintain related databases, and recruit, oversee, and train volunteers for crime-prevention efforts.
Gather information from crime victims for analysis of circumstances and trends; receive public inquiries and requests for law-enforcement service at the counter, by telephone, and in the field; take preliminary and routine reports.
Compile information, gather evidence, and testify in court as required.
Perform administrative and office tasks for the Police Department, including background checks, file management, promoting services, assisting sworn officers, updating the department website, grant-related work, and placing orders.
Perform other related duties as assigned.