Community Service Officer

The Position

The City of Santa Cruz is now recruiting for Community Service Officer candidates. Come join a department that has received national and international acclaim for our innovative community-based policing strategies. We believe in fostering an environment of strong critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving. You will work alongside great team members and interact with our diverse community. We have state-of-the-art training combined with an opportunity to make a difference in our community.

The Community Service Officer position does not require previous law enforcement experience.

Each and every employee in our department embodies a commitment to change and improving the quality of life in Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz Police Department serves a community of over 65,000 citizens. During the summer months, the population may swell to over 100,000.

The City of Santa Cruz has a strong interest in and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our recruitment, hiring and retention practices.

We actively seek and encourage applications from talented individuals with diverse backgrounds.

Recruitment # 23-PD-04 -Apply now, If you do not possess a current Pellet B score, you can take the POST Pellet B test FOR FREE with us on TBD (details on location and time will be emailed to you after applying & within a week prior to the offered exam date)

OR

Attach the verification of your POST Pellet-B T Score of 46 or higher to your job application.

OR

Here is a link to see other offered test dates for the POST Pellet B Exam (with a fee):

If you already have taken the POST Pellet B test in calendar years 2023 or 2024, and have a score of 46 or higher, you do not have to take the test again; attach the official letter verifying your test results to your City of Santa Cruz application.

The City will accept a minimum T score of46.

Selection Timeline:
(The following process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Chief People Officer.)

• Apply to be invited to the upcoming Pellet B testing offering onTBD or upload your Pellet B for faster processing. All application materials must be received by the Human Resources Department (Please note this recruitment may close without notice at any time)

Required application materials:

• Application - online application preferred; Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out an application form completely.
• Responses to the supplemental questions
• Attachment ofPellet B results (if taken already)

Screening Continuously:
Applications will be screened based on the minimum qualifications for this position plus Pellet B t-score if submitted. Email notification will be sent to all applicants regarding status.

POST Pellet B Test scheduled for TBD:
All candidates who pass the initial screening process and do not possess a POST Pellet B t-score must attend an offered test OR take a Pellet B exam with another agency within the same time frame of application

Personal History Statement:

candidates who attached their POST Pellet B t-score will be directed to fill out the Non-Sworn version of the Personal History Statementform (PHS) within ten working days of notification.

This is a lengthy document; if you wish to work on this ahead of time, the form is available on the City website.

See our agency's customized instructions on filling out PHS.Candidates who test with our agency with a score of 46.

0 or higher:
will be directed to fill out the Non-Sworn version of the Personal History Statement form (PHS) within ten working days of notification

Interviews:
All candidates who successfully pass a review of their PHS will go on to selection interviews.

Any candidates who have Pellet-B T-Score results may turn in their Non-Sworn PHS early and may receive an early interview appointment.

Selected candidates who pass the selection interview will continue on to the background process described below.

*PAY INCENTIVES

HIRINGBONUS:

New Community Service Officers are eligible to receive a $5,000 bonus- 1/3 upon successful completion of the Field Training Officer (FTO) program, 1/3 upon successful completion of probation, and 1/3 on the second anniversary of the hiring date (one year after the completion of probation).

• If any of our City employees referred you to apply for this position, please be sure to check the "City Employee" box where the application asks for the recruitment source and provide the referring employee name(s) as well. That way, we all get to benefit from having talented new employees.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND POLYGRAPH TEST

An intensive background investigation will be conducted on each final candidate in accordance with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission Peace Officer Background Investigations Guidelines.

Candidates will also be required to successfully pass a polygraph test administered by a licensed polygrapher, a psychological exam given by a City-selected psychologist and a medical exam by a City physician (to include a stress test EKG and general physical examination).

The results of the psychological exam are valid for one year.

Suitability for employment will also be based on the following POST job dimensions:

problem-solving ability, learning ability, observation skills, willingness to confront problems, interest in people, interpersonal sensitivity, desire for self-improvement, dependability, integrity, credibility as a witness in a court of law, communication skills, judgment under pressure and physical ability.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT POLICY REGARDING ILLEGAL USE

OR POSSESSION OF DRUGS
The following types of drug use or possession will be considered towards the disqualification of candidates in the pre-employment selection process for all police department applicants:

A) Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within seven (7) years prior to application for employment.

(LSD, PCP, XTC, And other designer drugs)

B) Any adult use or possession of marijuana, or derivative within one year prior to application for employment.

C) Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug listed below in the designated time frame prior to application for employment.

Cocaine 7 Years

Amphetamines 7 Years

Meth amphetamines 7 Years

Heroin 7 Years

D) Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in the capacity of a police officer, licensed security officer, military police, or as a student enrolled in college accredited courses of/or related to the criminal justice field.

E) As an adult, any illegal manufacturing or cultivating of a drug.

F) Failure to divulge to the Police Department during the background investigation any information about personal use or possession of drugs.

The disqualification of a police officer candidate for the following types of illegal drug use or possession will be considered in relationship to the overall background of that individual:

A) Any illegal juvenile use or possession of a drug.

B) Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the considered disqualifiers specified above; e.g., illegal usage of prescribed or non-prescribed medication or any illegal substance used by the means of injection (Steroids will be considered on a case by case basis only if the above timeline restrictions outlined in section one above has been met)

DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must be able to obtain by time of hire and continue to maintain a valid California driver's license and a safe driving record.

Applicants with more than two moving violations or responsibility for more than two vehicle accidents in the past three years will be disqualified.

A DUI conviction within four years or any two convictions of DUI of alcohol and/or drugs shall be disqualifying.

Under general supervision, patrols public areas; issues citations or verbal warnings for municipal code violations; writes police reports; reports criminal code violations to sworn officers; performs low risk investigations, including interviews and evidence processing; performs public contact work in crime prevention; and performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Duties

(May include but are not limited to, those duties listed below.)

• Takes/investigates crime and traffic reports which are low risk in nature or are not in progress.
• Identifies, preserves, collects and analyzes evidence associated with criminal incidents.
• Coordinates documents and organizes investigative information and evidence for subsequent prosecution and laboratory analysis.
• Handles both emergency and non-emergency calls to assist citizens.
• Handles follow up including re-contacting involved parties on crime reports to obtain further information.
• Performs general patrol duties, both on foot and in vehicles, as a crime deterrent. Reports problems to or calls for assistance from City Police, Fire or other departments as appropriate.
• Enforces municipal code violations; gives warnings; issues citations for violations of local ordinances.
• Maintains a uniformed presence; assists public and merchants by providing security, answering questions and providing information.
• Presents crime prevention information to citizen groups and businesses.
• Transports victims, witnesses and prisoners, as needed.
• Checks security of buildings, detects fire and liability hazards.
• Identifies immediate maintenance problems in buildings and wharf structures.
• Performs vehicle abatement duties, including maintenance of a daily log of activities, determining parking violations and issuing the appropriate citations, arranging for towing of abandoned vehicles and otherwise participating in the vehicle abatement program as directed.
• Appears in court as necessary.
• May direct and control traffic at accidents or special events, or as a school crossing guard; may perform non-hazardous crowd control duties.
• Fingerprints individuals.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Skills:

• Verbal and written communication skills to take information by phone or in person and to give information to the public.
• Organizational skills to gather and coordinate data.

Abilities:

• Understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Write clear, concise and accurate reports.
• Effectively listen to, comprehend and communicate via a police radio.
• Tactfully and effectively interact with people of ethnic and cultural diversity.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with peers, department and the general public.
• Compile and maintain accurate records.
• Read maps and mapped information.
• Understand, appropriately apply and clearly explain regulations, codes and ordinances, policies and procedures.
• Learn to diagram, photograph or video-film crime scene.
• Learn to logically and progressively interview victims and witnesses.
• Learn to operate word processing equipment to prepare reports.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Work independently and meet established deadlines.
• Pass a thorough background investigation, psychological exam, and medical exam.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Willingness to:

• Wear a uniform.
• Carry a baton, chemical agent, Taser, handcuffs and radio.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Attend community service officer training academy.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills and abilities combined with any required licenses is qualifying.

A typical way to obtain the required qualifications is to possess the equivalent of the following:

• High school graduation or tested equivalent.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES

• Possession at time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid California driver's license and a safe driving record.
• Completion of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) 832 PC - Powers of Arrest Course within three months of hire.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience or education related to law enforcement.
• Bilingual ability to speak and write in English and Spanish.
• Possession of certification in advanced first aid and CPR.
• Possession of a Private Security Officer License and Private Security Baton License issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
• Typing skills of 45 wpm.
• Possession of POST 832 PC certification.

Career Ladder

Police Lieutenant

Police Sergeant

Police Officer

Police Officer Trainee

Community Service Officer

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