Community Service Officer

DESCRIPTION

**This recruitment is for 5 Full-Time, benefits eligible openings**

The Community Services Officer performs a variety of community service duties in a non-sworn capacity in coordination with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; responds to calls-for-service, takes crime reports, enforces the California Vehicle Code, City ordinances, and regulations; issues citations and provides testimony in court; and educates the public about federal, state, and local laws and codes while providing outstanding customer service.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a full journey level classification. Incumbents perform a variety of responsible duties on behalf of the department operations with work generally reviewed upon completion and for overall results. Incumbents are required to possess previous related experience and are expected to be fully competent in performing assigned duties.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receive and respond to citizen inquiries and requests for sheriff services in the field, at a public counter, and over the telephone.
• Conduct preliminary investigations at given locations including taking statements and gathering facts through observation.
• Make referrals to other agencies as appropriate.
• Assist in traffic control.
• Write crime and incident reports; prepare and maintain logbooks and other records.
• Operate assigned vehicle; ensure issued equipment is in proper order; inventory and maintain supplies such as citation books, envelopes, and other forms.
• Interact with the public on an ongoing basis; receive, listen to, and skillfully handle citizen issues and complaints and conduct research to respond to community concerns as necessary.
• Conducts routine patrols of city facilities and other designated locations.
• Assist the public by providing directions and answering a variety of questions regarding the Sheriff's Department and City programs, policies, and procedures.
• Enforce California Vehicle Codes, issue citations, and store or tow vehicles.
• Enforce provisions of the City's Municipal Code and Palmdale Zoning ordinances; issue administrative citations; educate the public about code and zoning ordinances.
• Prepare for, appear, and testify in criminal and civil court proceedings and at depositions as needed.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE & TRAINING / LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATE

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

One year of full-time, or the equivalent of part-time, experience working in a law enforcement or public safety capacity with substantial public contact.

Training:

High school diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent. College level coursework in law enforcement or related field is highly desirable.

Other Requirement:

Must successfully pass the background for the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as soon as practical.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

Possession of a valid California driver's license and legally required vehicle insurance and the ability to be insured with the City's insurance carrier required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Due process, constitutional rights, limitation of authority; legal remedies, and abatement strategies used in investigation of complaints.
• Appropriate safety measures for field investigations.
• City organizational structure/functions.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Community/agency resources available to effect compliance/aid.
• Outside agencies’ jurisdiction.
• Rules and procedures of providing testimony in court regarding crime reports.
• Computer skills necessary to write reports, develop presentations, and collect data.

Ability to:

• Gather and analyze data.
• Prepare accurate and concise technical reports.
• Make sound decisions and recommend appropriate corrective action.
• Work safely in the field setting.
• Interact with residents, businesses, other City employees, Sheriff's Department personnel, and personnel of other government agencies both in the office and in the field.
• Communicate effectively with members of the public, other City employees, Sheriff's Department personnel, and personnel from other public agencies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with members of the public, other City employees, Sheriff's Department personnel, and personnel from other public agencies.
• Read, write, and speak clearly and effectively using the English language. Use proper English composition, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Interpret and apply civil and criminal laws, the Penal code, Welfare and Institutional Codes, health and safety codes, vehicle codes, City codes, and radio codes.
• Work crime scenes as assigned and write reports.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural and ethnic diversity of the community.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Physical Demands:

Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent driving, walking, standing, bending, squatting, and sitting for long periods of time; occasional climbing.

Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 40 pounds.

Vision: constant use of overall vision; color and depth vision; frequent reading and close-up work.

Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching.

Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone.

Emotional/Psychological: frequent decision-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; regularly works alone.

Environmental: frequent exposure to noise.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in both a typical temperature-controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and environment, and outside in various types of weather.

Position is required to operate vehicles; may require occasional overtime; night and weekend work is required; travel is rare.

The City of Palmdale is noted for its highly skilled work force with a large concentration of aerospace firms located at Air Force Plant 42 and nearby Edwards Air Force Base. Its family oriented and culturally enhancing venues such as the Palmdale Playhouse, DryTown Water Park and Starlight Amphitheater make Palmdale "a place to call home."

The city is located approximately one hour north of Los Angeles off the Antelope Valley Freeway (14). Palmdale encompasses about 104 square miles and has a population of approximately 153,000. The City is served by several school districts and has a growing retail and commercial base. For more information visit www.cityofpalmdale.org.

BUSINESS HOURS: Normal operating hours are from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday - Thursday. CLOSED on Friday.

UNION: The Teamsters Local 911 represents certain positions in the City's Maintenance Division of Public Works.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

APPLICATION MATERIALS must be submitted by the closing date listed in the job bulletin. Resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of a City online application.

RESIDENCE within the City is not required.

AN ELIGIBILITY LIST of the most qualified applicants will be compiled based on the results of the selection process. The list will remain in place for a period to be determined by Human Resources.

BENEFITS listed here apply to full-time and benefited part-time positions; not to unbenefited part-time employees unless so described.

A PROBATION PERIOD of six months minimum applies to initial employment with the City.

VACATION, HOLIDAYS AND LEAVE: The City provides 14 paid holidays per year and 80 hours vacation (years one through four) with a maximum accrual of 240 hours (160 hours for benefited part-time employees). Administrative employees accrue 80 hours of administrative leave per year with a maximum accrual of 240 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Employees accrue 96 hours per year with a maximum accrual of 800 hours (400 hours for benefited part-time employees). Unbenefited part-time employees receive 28 hours of paid sick leave per fiscal year.

RETIREMENT: The City is a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Cal-PERS). Full-time and benefited part-time employees will be enrolled in either the New Member or Classic plan, as defined by CalPERS. New Members are enrolled in the 2% @ 62 formula and pay the full 6.25% employee contribution. Classic Members are enrolled in the 2% @ 60 formula and pay the full 7% employee contribution.

All other part-time employees are covered under the Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS).

WELLNESS PROGRAM: The program includes gym membership discounts, healthy eating programs, exercise classes & other programs.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: Direct Deposit is mandatory for all new employees.

CREDIT UNION: F&A Federal Credit Union & Logix Federal Credit Union (formerly Lockheed) are available options.

INSURANCE: The City offers group health, dental/vision, long term and short term disability, and a $50,000 life insurance policy for full-time employees. The City contributes towards the employee's health insurance.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: The City participates in the ICMA-RC Deferred Compensation Plan, which enables benefited part-time and full-time employees to contribute on a tax deferred basis.

OVERTIME COMPENSATION: Over time is accrued at time-and-a-half for eligible employees for time physically worked in excess of the regular forty (40) hour work week.

PART-TIME EMPLOYEES: Unbenefited part-time employees are reviewed for merit salary advancement, but are not eligible for any other benefits listed. Benefited part-time employees are eligible for CalPERS retirement, sick leave, holidays, & vacation on a prorated basis.

MILEAGE PAY: Any employee may be reimbursed for work related mileage at 54 cents per mile when assigned to use their private vehicle on City business.

SOCIAL SECURITY: The City does not participate in Social Security, and does not deduct Social Security payments from any employee's salary. The City does deduct 1.45% of salary for Medicare & makes a 1.45% matching contribution

*Benefits can change at any time.

Closing Date/Time: 8/24/2024 12:00 AM Pacific

Palmdale, California United States View Map