Community Service Officer

City of Fargo•Nd 58102, ND

1d•Onsite

About The Position

A Community Service Officer (CSO) performs a variety of fieldwork in the enforcement of City ordinances and other laws and regulations relating to animal calls for service and/or complaints and parking enforcement. CSO’s perform other duties such as assisting with calls for service pertaining to found and/or lost property. CSO’s also assist patrol officers as trained Crime Scene Investigators. CSO’s work under general supervision of a Sergeant, who is often not immediately present during all of their work activities. Work includes engaging with citizens and answering questions in regards to animal and parking complaints. CSO’s are governed by Fargo Police Policies and are responsible for all assigned equipment related to their position.

Requirements

High school diploma
One year of previous experience in the handling and/or care of animals, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
A valid driver’s license is also required.
Must become trained in the use of an animal tranquilizer gun within 12 months of employment.
Knowledge of common breeds of animals and their behavior.
Knowledge of City ordinances pertaining to animals and parking.
Knowledge of chemical and safety applications for tranquilizer gun.
Knowledge of proper traffic control techniques.
Computer knowledge for information research/follow-up purposes.
Skill in handling animals and in the use of capture/storage equipment.
Skill with firearm (tranquilizer gun).
Skill in written English sufficient to read and understand ordinances and to write reports.
Skill in communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
Skill with personal defensive equipment and knowledge of when it is appropriate to use it (pepper spray, expandable baton).
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Complete internal training as a Crime Scene Investigator.

Responsibilities

Patrols the City to observe violations of animal control ordinances and respond accordingly.
Responds to complaints from citizens regarding animals; discusses situation with owner and/or complainant; determines if there is a violation of ordinance; issues warnings or citations.
Provides information and assistance to citizens such as discussing ordinances, department policies, or animal control procedures.
Captures wild, stray, or hostile and aggressive animals using various animal control tools, including the use of a tranquilizer gun, or takes other corrective action as necessary.
Investigates animal cruelty incidents, barking dog investigations; interviews complainants, suspects and witnesses; prepares case reports for criminal charges in cruelty cases.
Testifies in court regarding animal attack or animal cruelty, barking dog cases.
Enter homes/vehicles and remove animals by request from officers for safekeeping due to arrest/hospitalization/death.
Investigate animal hoarding and neglect situations, possibly to include removing numerous animals in unsanitary conditions.
Work with local animal rescues for assistance in large scale situations as well as assisting with community events.
On occasion, work with other city/county law enforcement to provide animal welfare assistance (capture and transportation).
Investigate purported animal abandonment.
Attempt to identify owners of found animals through physical means (collar/ID tag), as well as utilizing microchip scanner; Contacting owner and/or returning animal home when appropriate.
Maintain records/knowledge of repeat animal violators.
Maintain records for declared potentially dangerous and dangerous dogs within the City of Fargo.
Patrols a designated area of the city; marks tires and records license plates of cars parked in time zones and records time; issues tickets to cars exceeding time limits and/or violating other city ordinances such as parking in a no parking zone, double parking, parking too close to a hydrant, etc.
Arranges for the impounding of cars according to established guidelines and maintains records of such actions as required.
Maintains working knowledge of parking issues/concerns; plans strategies to deal with parking concerns.
Answers public questions regarding parking issues.
Assists Street Department with snow removal efforts by impounding illegally parked vehicles downtown, overnight at their request.
Contact property owners to relay non-classified information (ex. vehicle parked on private property, caller wants to be sure it isn't stolen).
Assists with traffic control during emergency situations.
Reports accidents, road hazards, malfunctioning traffic lights, downed street signs, etc. to ensure proper city personnel are aware of the situation.
Responds to calls of found or abandoned property, including bicycles; secures and stores property, impounds bicycles and transports them to storage facility and twice a year to bike auctions; do stolen bike reports when there are no suspects.
Utilizes computer skills to research and follow up on stolen bicycle complaints in an effort to identify theft patterns and to return bicycles to the rightful owners.
Assist with traffic control at public events.
Assist at community events.
Attempt to contact found property owners, when known, to return property.
Log unclaimed property into evidence physically as well as electronically.
Performs general administrative services.
Responsible for internal and external delivery and pick-up of some mail.
Handles cash or checks from fines; brings to records for deposits.
Picks up license checks; delivers City licenses to vets.
Respond to officer requests to transport large/numerous items as evidence or for transportation (bikes to jail, items to evidence).
Provide all on the job training for new CSOs.
Provide additional assistance in locating lost children/vulnerable individuals.
Assist Patrol Officers and CID as a trained Crime Scene Investigator as needed.
Communicates and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
Frequently interacts with the public to exchange basic fact information as requested or as necessary to perform job duties.
Interaction with the public occasionally includes detailed information about risks involving animal behavior and the potential impact of failure to control animals.
Some interaction requires effort to calm or reason with irate citizens.
Conducts animal safety presentations in schools, or to interested citizen groups.
Contributes to monthly media announcements pertaining to animal or parking related issues.
Frequently interacts with others in the work unit to exchange detailed and/or technical information.
Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss.
Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work.
When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
Cleans and checks vehicle and equipment to ensure proper function. Lights, brakes, oil, gas, air in tires.
Performs other duties and activities as assigned.