Boca Raton Police Services Department Community Service Officer PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 16.01 COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER Revised: December 11, 2014 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to provide procedures regarding the functions and responsibilities of community service officers (CSO) of t...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 16.01 COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER Revised: December 11, 2014 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to provide procedures regarding the functions and responsibilities of community service officers (CSO) of the Boca Raton Police Services Department. II. POLICY: It is the policy of the Boca Raton Police Services Division to alleviate the necessity for assignment of sworn officers to perform tasks not requiring authority, and to give quality service to the citizens of Boca Raton through trained community service officers. III. SELECTION PROCESS: A. The community service officer program is geared towards individuals with an interest in law enforcement. Below are the minimum qualifications for CSO: B. 1. Must be at least 18 years of age 2. Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent 3. Must possess a valid Florida drivers license 4. May not have been charged or convicted of any felony or serious misdemeanor. By their application the candidate must: 1. Give permission to conduct a background investigation 2. Agree to a credit check 3. Agree to successfully complete an approved CSO academy, as designated by the department 4. Take a polygraph examination 5. Pass a medical examination, including a drug screen 6. Pass a complete psychological screening. Effective: June 26, 2006 Revised: December 11, 2014 Community Service Officer SOP No. 16.01 Page 1 of 4 IV. TRAINING: 18.12 A. CSOs shall receive training on subjects such as traffic control, accident investigation, parking enforcement, and first responder responsibilities through: 1. A Police Service Aide Academy at an approved local State college. 2. Departmental field training program under the supervision of a field training officer. V. WORK HOURS: A. CSOs’ work hours will vary according to their duties and they will be required to work various shift hours to provide maximum coverage based on the peak times of traffic crashes and school crossing guard posts. VI. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CSO SUPERVISOR: A. The duties of a CSO Supervisor include, but are not limited to: 1. Recruit, hire, and train CSOs and school crossing guards. 2. Advise and assist in the performance of their subordinate’s duties. 3. Monitor CSOs to ensure that they complete all reports in an accurate and timely manner. 4. Review and approve reports. 5. Conduct monthly inspections. 6. Perform field investigation and write reports in connection with accidents and/or injuries. 7. Periodically observe and check the performance of the CSOs in the field for evaluation purposes. 8. Complete appropriate personnel evaluations and forward the evaluations through the chain of command. 9. Investigate lost or stolen city property reported by a CSO and forward reports through appropriate chain of command. 10. Investigate and resolve any complaints against CSOs and prepare the appropriate reports and memos, copies of which must be forwarded through the chain of command. Effective: June 26, 2006 Revised: December 11, 2014 Community Service Officer SOP No. 16.01 Page 2 of 4 11. Initiate appropriate discipline so as to maintain high morale and efficiency. 12. Perform any other duties required by the Department. VII. CSO DUTIES: 18.12 A. This non-sworn position involves investigating traffic crashes, handling traffic-related calls for service, and taking reports of various delayed calls for service. These tasks include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Investigate traffic crashes and issue crash-related traffic citations. 2. Investigate assorted traffic complaints. 3. Check main arteries for code violations; e.g., abandoned, inoperative vehicles. 4. Check shopping centers regularly for illegal parking; e.g., handicapped parking. 5. Check patrol areas for traffic obstructions, e.g., blocked signs, hedges obstructing views of traffic, vehicles parked too close to intersections, etc. 6. Handle traffic control at school crossings. 7. Handle hazardous traffic situations, e.g., traffic fatalities/traumas, gas leaks, etc. 8. Deliver messages and paperwork to and from courthouses and other documents as requested by City Hall or the Department. 9. Testify in court. 10. Handle calls for service and related paperwork as directed. B. During their tour of duty, CSOs may encounter situations and occurrences that need attention by the Department. Excluding those instances that would pose a potential danger to the CSO or are not within their realm of authority to handle, there are several types of activity in which they may perform including the following: 1. Identifying and reporting abandoned vehicles. 2. Installing traffic counting systems where and when requested. 3. Assisting in maintenance of fleet vehicles. C. CSOs are not armed, are not police officers, do not have general arrest powers, and therefore, are restricted on the types of duties which may be performed, including the following: 1. CSOs shall not operate vehicles in an emergency mode. 2. CSOs shall not be dispatched to or respond to any crimes-in-progress calls. Effective: June 26, 2006 Revised: December 11, 2014 Community Service Officer SOP No. 16.01 Page 3 of 4 3. CSOs have no general arrest powers and will not attempt to make any physical arrests. In the event a situation arises where a physical arrest is indicated, a sworn officer will be dispatched to the scene. 4. CSOs shall not be dispatched to any disturbance calls involving confrontations between individuals such as family disturbances, neighborhood disputes, etc. 5. Under no circumstances shall CSOs be allowed to use physical force in the performance of their duties, except as a last resort in self-defense. 6. VIII. A. CSOs shall not make traffic stops. USE OF AUTHORIZED CHEMICAL AGENTS: CSOs shall carry only chemical agents approved by the Department. B. Only personnel trained in the use of aerosol irritants are authorized to carry and use these weapons in the performance of their duties, and only in a way that is consistent with their training. C. CSOs are required to attend two (2) hours of training taught by a certified aerosol instructor before being authorized to carry aerosol on duty. D. CSOs are required to attend an aerosol irritant re-certification course at a minimum, once every two years, as taught by a certified aerosol instructor. Approved: Daniel C. Alexander Chief of Police Effective: June 26, 2006 Revised: December 11, 2014 Date: Community Service Officer SOP No. 16.01 Page 4 of 4