Community Services Officer

City of Oceanside•Oceanside, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for current and future Community Services Officer vacancies assigned to the Oceanside Police Department. Community Services Officers perform routine, non-sworn clerical and field duties that support law enforcement functions. The role involves frequent public contact about a wide range of civil and criminal issues, sometimes in emotionally tense situations that require patience, tact, discretion, and responsiveness. The position is distinct from the supervisory Community Safety Specialist Supervisor classification. Assignments may be in the Patrol Operations, Support Operations, or Investigations Division. The position requires availability for variable shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime. Applicants must successfully complete a thorough police background investigation, which may include psychological and polygraph examinations; a medical examination, which may include drug screening, is also required. The selection process may take up to 90 days.

Requirements

Equivalent to completion of twelfth grade or GED.
Possess, or be able to obtain and maintain, an appropriate valid California driver's license.
Ability to maintain confidentiality in stressful situations.
Ability to analyze situations and take effective action; think and act quickly in emergencies; and use sound judgment.
Ability to work variable shifts, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to use a computer terminal and various computer programs; maintain records, logs, and files; and prepare accurate, grammatically correct written reports and records.
Ability to remain courteous and calm when interacting with hostile citizens and to deal with the public in difficult work situations.
Ability to follow oral and written directions and learn to interpret and apply relevant laws, codes, and regulations impartially and efficiently.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and work as part of a team.
Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and concisely, orally and in writing.
Ability to read maps and learn the city's geography.
Knowledge of legal guidelines, regulations, laws, and procedures governing confidentiality, security, and processing of law enforcement records.
Knowledge of police terminology, law enforcement codes, record keeping, automated information systems, Police Department organization and procedures related to processing police records, and the basic organization and functions of a municipal law enforcement agency.
Knowledge of procedures and work methods for safely and efficiently performing assigned duties, and techniques for dealing with the public tactfully but firmly.
Knowledge of photography and fingerprinting techniques and modern office procedures, practices, and equipment.
Successfully pass a thorough police background investigation, which may include a psychological evaluation and polygraph examination, and a medical examination, which may include drug screening.
Customer service and/or public contact work experience is desirable; no experience is required.

Nice To Haves

Customer service and/or public contact work experience.

Responsibilities

Respond to citizen inquiries and requests for police services and information at a public counter, by telephone, and in the field.
Write reports concerning civil and criminal matters, traffic accidents, animal bites, lost or found property, and missing persons.
Fingerprint applicants and photograph evidence and registrants.
Provide information to officers in the field; distinguish criminal from non-criminal issues; and advise or assist as appropriate.
Register sex, narcotics, and other criminal offenders.
Provide court testimony.
Collect and book found property and evidence; maintain log books and records.
Search prisoners when required and escort prisoners to rest rooms.
Serve subpoenas on Police Department employees.
Conduct public presentations and security inspections; recommend security devices and protective measures to the public.
Enforce selected City codes and direct and control crowds and traffic.
In Patrol Operations, establish traffic control posts, investigate crimes not in progress and traffic collisions, travel to crime scenes, respond to appropriate calls for service by police radio, and assist with call taking in communications.
In Support Operations, conduct follow-up investigations of non-injury or minor-injury collisions, support police department community-event logistics, support operations downtown and in the beach area, provide administrative and field support to the Homeless Outreach Team, and assist with the juvenile diversion program.
In Investigations, conduct follow-up investigations of criminal and missing-person cases, research departmental statistical data, assist with public-records requests, disposition evidence, compile data, and track sex registrants.
Perform related duties as assigned.