Community Service Officer | About the Position

Being a Community Service Officer (CSO) with the Santa Clara Police Department will allow you to work in a variety of units, each with the common goal of serving the public and supporting our operation. CSOs are non-sworn officers who work in the field taking non-urgent reports, directing traffic, and answering non-emergency calls for service. They work in the detective bureau and the Homeland Security and Special Events unit assisting detectives. No matter where you look in our department, you are likely to see a CSO assigned to that unit.

Interview with a Community Service Officer

To provide you the best possible information about the position, we interviewed one of our rockstar CSOs so we could provide you the real information you are looking for. Here is what he said…

When you first started, what was the most surprising thing about the job?

“Before applying, I heard from a lot of people that the Santa Clara community really supports the police department. That was a huge selling point for me and one of the main reasons I chose Santa Clara. When I was hired and assigned to the Patrol Division, I got to see the community support firsthand. The community really appreciates our service and citizens routinely approach me just to chat and say thanks. It feels good inside to know that the work I do is valued by the Santa Clara community.”

What is the best part about your job as a CSO?

  • “Being able to work/communicate amongst amazing, friendly, and supportive people.”

  • “The community sees you as a superhero.”

  • “Helping officers in calls and being exposed to all different types of incidents to make you a more knowledgeable/well-rounded individual.”

What is the most challenging part of being a CSO?

“The most challenging part is also the most rewarding. As a CSO you have the opportunity to rotate to different divisions and the opportunity to grow and learn. If you are a hard worker, like to learn, driven to always do your best, and are a team player, you’ll be successful no matter where you are assigned.”

What is a typical day for a CSO assigned to the patrol division?

“A typical day involves responding to calls for service, issuing parking cites, taking non-emergency reports, and towing abandoned cars.”

Tell us about a special unit that you have been assigned to as a CSO.

“I was assigned to the Permits Unit. There my duties included 1) issuing/renewing permits to certain regulated business within the city, 2) along with the officers from the Community Response Team, I conducted surprise inspections of massage parlors and bingo games, and 3) I assisted the Recruiting and Hiring Unit with background checks on police applicants.”

What’s an example of how CSOs interact with the community?

“CSO’s assigned to the Community Services Unit deliver safety presentations to the school children in Santa Clara.”

What is the most memorable thing that has ever happened to you as a CSO?

“I’ve had multiple incidents that are ingrained in my memory. One incident that stands out was when I located a missing elderly female. A patrol officer broadcasted over the radio to be on the lookout for a missing woman. I decided to try to help find her. I searched for her and found her. I will never forget the woman’s face lit up when we reunited her with her children.”

What is something that may surprise CSO applicants?  

“CSO applicants may not know that as a CSO, you’ll have an opportunity to work overtime at Levi’s Stadium. Whether it is a major sporting event or a concert, CSOs work at every major event at the stadium.”

HIRING PROCES

The typical hiring process takes 4- 6 months.

Whether it is working in the field or behind the scenes, being a Community Service Officer will give you the opportunity to be an important part of our family and our team.