What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Services Officer position at City of Merced?
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
Summary Description
Under general supervision, assist with law enforcement activities in non-emergency and emergency situations; provide a variety of support for general law enforcement and investigative functions; develop and maintain police community relations efforts; perform the full scope of duties, as needed, including maintaining field communications with public safety personnel with minimal guidance and supervision; help and serve people in need; and perform related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is a specialized classification in that incumbents perform a broad range of law enforcement support in non-emergency and emergency situations with less guidance and supervision. Incumbents conduct traffic accident investigations/reconstructions, respond to crime scenes to collect evidence, perform a variety of community relation efforts, perform code enforcement functions, perform animal control functions and may be assigned to a variety of special projects, functions, and activities as needed. Work shifts may rotate, including working nights, weekends, and holidays and mandatory overtime may be required. Additionally, the Community Services Officer is a non-sworn position.
REPORTS TO
Police Captain or designee.
CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED
This is not a supervisory position.REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
When Assigned To Police Investigations
Knowledge Of
General geography of the City of Merced.
Methods and techniques of public relations.
Law enforcement methods, practices, and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, and investigations.
Methods and techniques of first aid.
Rules of evidence pertaining to search and seizure and the preservation and presentation of evidence.
Use and care for Department equipment and specialized computer diagramming programs.
Law enforcement investigative techniques regarding accident reconstruction and crime scene investigations.
Operating policies, procedures, and functions of the City of Merced.
Principles and techniques of public safety communications, customer service and customer courtesy.
P.O.S.T. requirements for training and certification.
Practices involved in background investigations.
Accepted safety standards and methods of building construction.
Inspection methods and procedures.
California Health and Safety Codes specifically related to code enforcement and the Uniform Housing Code.
Care and feeding of various breeds of dogs and cats and other domestic animals.
Laws, rules and regulations governing the control of domestic animals.
Common diseases of animals, including symptoms and care.
Safe and efficient handling of a variety of domestic animals.
Characteristics of animal behavior.
Basic methods of animal collection and restraint.
Record keeping methods and procedures.
Inspection of vacant and abandoned homes.
Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws and codes.
Proper use, dosage, and delivery of euthanasia.
Basic methods of budget tracking and administration.
General practices of receiving, processing, storing, releasing, and disposing of found, recovered, and confiscated property and evidence while maintaining an unbroken chain of evidence.
Standard law enforcement information pertaining to backgrounds, travel, training and recordkeeping terminology.
Basic interviewing methods and techniques.
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Ability To
Prepare and present graphic documentation of accident/crime scenes.
Read, understand, and interpret laws and regulations regarding evidence.
Observe incidents and situations, accurately remembering names, faces, numbers, circumstances, and places.
Gather and organize data and information, and prepare clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence.
Interview and secure information from witnesses and suspects.
Use a computer and specialized software to summarize and evaluate data and information.
Perform a variety of office support work.
Provide excellent customer service and support.
Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organizations.
Make mathematical calculations quickly and accurately.
Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations.
Interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Use and apply a wide scope of inspection methods and techniques.
Detect deviations from City ordinance standards for heating, lighting, ventilating, and plumbing installations.
Determine compliance with ordinance space requirements.
Read, interpret and explain Animal Control ordinances and regulations.
Enforce City and State ordinances and laws relating to the licensing, quarantine, impound, care, and treatment of animals.
Provide court testimony regarding animal control issues.
Use and care of animal control equipment and vehicles in a safe and effective manner.
Capture and handle animals.
Operate independently and as part of a team.
Apply proper methods and techniques to follow up on cases after initial visits.
Maintain composure and professional demeanor and provide empathy during interactions with the public.
Establish priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.
Multi-task and provide flexibility and willingness to assist other staff when needed.
Meet and follow deadlines.
Effectively research cases and communicate with requestors.
Track and maintain inventory of equipment when needed.
Use logic and reasoning to understand, analyze, and evaluate situations and exercise good judgment to make appropriate decisions.
Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and
database applications.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Education/Training
Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
Experience
Two years of experience performing a variety of office support assignments in a position requiring considerable public contact.
License Or Certificate
Possession of an appropriate California Driver License.
Special Requirements
Ability to work unusual hours and weekends when necessary.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.
Environment: Work is performed in office, outdoor and driving environments with travel from site to site; occasionally work alone in remote locations; exposure to varying temperatures; exposure to dust, chemicals, gases, electrical currents, and noxious odors; exposure to animals with rabies and other diseases; and frequent contact with staff and the public.
Physical: Frequently stand and walk, climb stairs and ladders, and sit for extended periods; walk on sloped, uneven and slippery surfaces; stoop, bend over, and kneel; crawl through various areas on hands and knees; sufficient manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to work with special equipment during emergency situations; lift and move objects weighing up to 100 pounds with assistance; maintain corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computers, telephones, calculators, copiers and FAX; and may use special equipment including portable radios, tasers, pepper spray, microchip scanners, catch poles, bite sticks, and traps; operate a vehicle.
Summary Description
Under general supervision, assist with law enforcement activities in non-emergency and emergency situations; provide a variety of support for general law enforcement and investigative functions; develop and maintain police community relations efforts; perform the full scope of duties, as needed, including maintaining field communications with public safety personnel with minimal guidance and supervision; help and serve people in need; and perform related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is a specialized classification in that incumbents perform a broad range of law enforcement support in non-emergency and emergency situations with less guidance and supervision. Incumbents conduct traffic accident investigations/reconstructions, respond to crime scenes to collect evidence, perform a variety of community relation efforts, perform code enforcement functions, perform animal control functions and may be assigned to a variety of special projects, functions, and activities as needed. Work shifts may rotate, including working nights, weekends, and holidays and mandatory overtime may be required. Additionally, the Community Services Officer is a non-sworn position.
REPORTS TO
Police Captain or designee.
CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED
This is not a supervisory position.REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
When Assigned To Police Investigations
- Collect crime scene evidence, including crime scene photography and videography and verify and process evidence recovered at a crime scene and log evidence.
- Conduct personal interviews, register, and track individuals convicted of violent sex, drug and arson offenses and maintain registration files; refer and work with planning, building, and other departments as appropriate.
- Perform field work and other required follow up work to verify addresses of registrants and as needed for criminal prosecutions.
- Initiate crime reports for registration violations and complete entries and updates as required and complete police reports and supplements.
- Testify in court regarding evidence and collected information.
- Manage inactive property crime cases including tracking of stolen property and preparation of latent fingerprints for presentation to the State Department of Justice.
- Provide support services to various divisions as needed.
- Perform related duties as required.
- Perform and assist in various recruiting activities; conduct background investigations and schedule background related appointments including interviews and polygraph and psychological testing for candidates seeking employment with the police department and work with human resources regarding testing dates and other background related issues.
- Track and maintain various files including background investigation files on candidates including those disqualified for employment, employee training files, and Field Training Officer confidential files; prepare for annual P.O.S.T. audit of files and purge files as needed according to policies.
- Track employee fingerprinting results and forward results to appropriate agency/department.
- Coordinate and meet with outside investigators regarding review of files pertaining to current and past employees and disqualified candidates.
- Coordinate all Police Department training functions; research training requirements for continuing professional training and perishable skills; schedule in-house training; process training requests including making necessary travel arrangements and collecting; and processing travel receipts and correspond with the public and other agencies regarding training and travel.
- Ensure compliance of all personnel regarding required training including P.O.S.T. certification of courses and mandated legislative required training within the Merced Police Department.
- Process new and renewal dog licenses and send out renewal and delinquent notices.
- Perform related duties as required.
- Perform traffic accident investigation and reconstruction by diagramming accident scenes and preparing reports of findings.
- Prepare various police-patrol and traffic reports including non-accident reports on crimes such as auto thefts, and non-suspect cold reports, and reports regarding criminal, civil, or other incidents.
- Assist with and conduct DUI safety inspection check points; serve subpoenas, direct traffic and control crowds as needed.
- Collect and compile statistical data.
- Solicit community participation, support, and input to determine crime prevention needs and present information to citizen groups, businesses, and homeowners on law enforcement topics.
- Testify in court regarding evidence and collected information.
- Train and coordinate citizen volunteer groups and college interns.
- Perform related duties as required.
- Verify and process all evidence recovered by the Police Department including evidence and photography on fatal traffic accidents; enter all property and evidence information into a computer program; verify evidence tag information; properly store, maintain, and file evidence by case number and train new officers on the handling and processing of evidence.
- Complete disposition reports from the District Attorney's Office; process discovery requests from the District Attorney (DA) and testify in Court as needed.
- Assist in the preparation of instruction manuals for property and evidence processing.
- Perform disposal and destruction of property and evidence; perform due diligence in finding the property owner, sending out notification letters, completing DOJ paperwork, and getting approval from involved officers and the DA.
- Release safekeeping or found property to owner; complete paperwork to document identification and ownership of property.
- Distribute all new and replacement equipment (except weapons and ammunition) to Police Officers and procure and maintain supplies and equipment pertaining to the handling, packaging, storing and disposal of property.
- Perform criminal history background checks on owners prior to firearm releases including completing pertinent applications and obtaining signatures or court orders.
- Assist in scheduling the auction for unclaimed property as necessary.
- Accept and process property release requests and requests for evidence from outside agencies, insurance companies, and attorneys.
- Prepare and complete crime reports and supplements, disposal manifests, court disposition requests, legal postings, financial documentation, and other correspondence as required.
- Transport evidence between crime labs, stations, warehouses, and other agencies; assist officers in proper packaging.
- Provide customer service and support for the public, Department staff, other Departments, and other agencies needing information concerning property and evidence.
- Stay current with statutes and legal opinions pertaining to property and evidence control, technological advancements in storage, packaging, and tracking methods, and DNA science applicable to property and evidence functions and make recommendations for improvement as necessary.
- Maintain the needs of assigned specialty unit and submit funding requests for annual police budget; submit quotes to purchase budget items without exceeding approved funding.
- Perform related duties as required.
- Obtain permission from owners and tenants to enter buildings; examine all areas to determine compliance with ordinance standards for heating, lighting, ventilating, and plumbing installations and enforce local and state laws.
- Inspect premises for overall cleanliness, adequate disposal of garbage and rubbish, including: signs of vermin, overgrown lawns, nuisance items potentially dangerous to the general public, graffiti, discarded furniture, and broken windows to determine compliance with property maintenance ordinance; and enforce local and state laws.
- Perform inspections for noncompliance vehicles on properties, vehicles parked on lawns, vehicles being dismantled and/or major repairs needed on private property; inspect trees, bushes, and hedges that block or impede public right of ways emanating from a private property to determine compliance with pertinent ordinances and enforce local and state laws.
- Inspect vacant buildings that owners are not taking action on and abandoned buildings left in substandard conditions.
- Consult file of violation reports and revisit dwellings at periodic intervals to verify correction of violations by property owners and tenants.
- Explain requirements of housing standards ordinance and property maintenance ordinance to property owners, building contractors, and other interested parties.
- Investigate and process substandard housing complaints that do not meet housing code regulations; address unpermitted sign complaints from citizens.
- Assist other staff and City Departments in determining if code violations exist while at inspections and transporting evidence and/or personal property.
- Perform various activities pertaining to the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program including posting vehicles and processing the necessary required documents.
- Patrol the City to investigate, locate, capture, and impound domestic animals; quarantine animals, when necessary.
- Respond to the public concerning stray, nuisance, dangerous, injured, or dead domestic animals.
- Explain animal control ordinances and policies to the public and concerned parties.
- Investigate complaints and cases of improper animal treatment; issue citations and document cases for prosecution of animal abuse and noncompliance, as needed, and testify in court.
- Operate a vehicle and use a variety of code enforcement and animal control equipment.
- Respond to special emergency calls during nights and weekends, as needed.
- Perform various clerical activities including scheduling inspections, processing inspection notes, developing and preparing reports on animal bites for the County Health Officer, preparing forms and letters advising property owners and tenants of possible violations and time allowed for correcting deficiencies, and researching properties and people regarding information on properties.
- Perform related duties as required.
Knowledge Of
General geography of the City of Merced.
Methods and techniques of public relations.
Law enforcement methods, practices, and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, and investigations.
Methods and techniques of first aid.
Rules of evidence pertaining to search and seizure and the preservation and presentation of evidence.
Use and care for Department equipment and specialized computer diagramming programs.
Law enforcement investigative techniques regarding accident reconstruction and crime scene investigations.
Operating policies, procedures, and functions of the City of Merced.
Principles and techniques of public safety communications, customer service and customer courtesy.
P.O.S.T. requirements for training and certification.
Practices involved in background investigations.
Accepted safety standards and methods of building construction.
Inspection methods and procedures.
California Health and Safety Codes specifically related to code enforcement and the Uniform Housing Code.
Care and feeding of various breeds of dogs and cats and other domestic animals.
Laws, rules and regulations governing the control of domestic animals.
Common diseases of animals, including symptoms and care.
Safe and efficient handling of a variety of domestic animals.
Characteristics of animal behavior.
Basic methods of animal collection and restraint.
Record keeping methods and procedures.
Inspection of vacant and abandoned homes.
Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws and codes.
Proper use, dosage, and delivery of euthanasia.
Basic methods of budget tracking and administration.
General practices of receiving, processing, storing, releasing, and disposing of found, recovered, and confiscated property and evidence while maintaining an unbroken chain of evidence.
Standard law enforcement information pertaining to backgrounds, travel, training and recordkeeping terminology.
Basic interviewing methods and techniques.
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Ability To
Prepare and present graphic documentation of accident/crime scenes.
Read, understand, and interpret laws and regulations regarding evidence.
Observe incidents and situations, accurately remembering names, faces, numbers, circumstances, and places.
Gather and organize data and information, and prepare clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence.
Interview and secure information from witnesses and suspects.
Use a computer and specialized software to summarize and evaluate data and information.
Perform a variety of office support work.
Provide excellent customer service and support.
Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organizations.
Make mathematical calculations quickly and accurately.
Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations.
Interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Use and apply a wide scope of inspection methods and techniques.
Detect deviations from City ordinance standards for heating, lighting, ventilating, and plumbing installations.
Determine compliance with ordinance space requirements.
Read, interpret and explain Animal Control ordinances and regulations.
Enforce City and State ordinances and laws relating to the licensing, quarantine, impound, care, and treatment of animals.
Provide court testimony regarding animal control issues.
Use and care of animal control equipment and vehicles in a safe and effective manner.
Capture and handle animals.
Operate independently and as part of a team.
Apply proper methods and techniques to follow up on cases after initial visits.
Maintain composure and professional demeanor and provide empathy during interactions with the public.
Establish priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.
Multi-task and provide flexibility and willingness to assist other staff when needed.
Meet and follow deadlines.
Effectively research cases and communicate with requestors.
Track and maintain inventory of equipment when needed.
Use logic and reasoning to understand, analyze, and evaluate situations and exercise good judgment to make appropriate decisions.
Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and
database applications.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Education/Training
Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
Experience
Two years of experience performing a variety of office support assignments in a position requiring considerable public contact.
License Or Certificate
Possession of an appropriate California Driver License.
Special Requirements
Ability to work unusual hours and weekends when necessary.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.
Environment: Work is performed in office, outdoor and driving environments with travel from site to site; occasionally work alone in remote locations; exposure to varying temperatures; exposure to dust, chemicals, gases, electrical currents, and noxious odors; exposure to animals with rabies and other diseases; and frequent contact with staff and the public.
Physical: Frequently stand and walk, climb stairs and ladders, and sit for extended periods; walk on sloped, uneven and slippery surfaces; stoop, bend over, and kneel; crawl through various areas on hands and knees; sufficient manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to work with special equipment during emergency situations; lift and move objects weighing up to 100 pounds with assistance; maintain corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computers, telephones, calculators, copiers and FAX; and may use special equipment including portable radios, tasers, pepper spray, microchip scanners, catch poles, bite sticks, and traps; operate a vehicle.