What does a community services officer do?
Community service offers or CSO support in crime response, investigation, and prevention where police powers are not necessary. The community service officers assist the police officers in terms of upholding order and law in the community. They provide citizens with customer service, community outreach, and patrol. It is their job to implement city codes and other non-criminal police associated duties. They provide non-EMS in-home and on-site assistance to the citizens. Also, they respond to non-criminal complaints, building checks, and more.
Community services officer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real community services officer resumes:
- Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
- Monitor alarms & CCTV, patrol campus, secure buildings, dorms and offer safety escorts to students & faculty.
- Apply first aid and CPR.
- Monitor and control CCTV's.
- Assist law enforcement officers in looking up information on the NCIC.
- Train in first aid and defensive driving, certify in CPR and EAD.
- Serve subpoenas, assist in the office and out on the streets during special events.
- Enter data on stolen vehicles, runaways, and missing persons in the NCIC data base.
- Provide security and extra help at special events like DUI checkpoints and other on campus events.
- Cull information regarding prior arrests and peruse license checks with DMV, warrants and insurance information.
- Perform administrative and clerical functions along with prisoner booking and processing.
- Maintain department issue uniforms, equipment, personal protective equipment and citizens patrol vehicle.
- Serve subpoenas, conduct investigation follow-up, process offender registration, and record management.
- Serve the community through proactive security post assignments or patrol functions including self initiate activities.
- Create simulations for force-on-force firearms training/defensive tactics for customers and train the trainers at Police/Sheriff departments.
Community services officer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Community Services Officers are proficient in Patrol, Public Safety, and Traffic Control. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Empathy, and Good judgment.
We break down the percentage of Community Services Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patrol, 18%
Serve the community through proactive security post assignments or patrol functions including self initiated activities.
- Public Safety, 14%
Coordinated and facilitated police officer responses to matters of public safety by patrolling the university grounds.
- Traffic Control, 10%
Provided traffic control and security at community events and public buildings.
- Parking Enforcement, 4%
Perform a variety of parking enforcement work that included enforcing statutory vehicle registration laws and parking regulation ordinance violations.
- Criminal Justice, 4%
Advise clients on criminal remedies and legal matters involved with the criminal justice system.
- Animal Control, 4%
Provide animal control, animal licensing, and enforcement of all animal-related and non-animal related ordinances to residents in the city.
Most community services officers use their skills in "patrol," "public safety," and "traffic control" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential community services officer responsibilities here:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a community services officer to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what community services officers do because "police and detectives must be able to speak with people and to express details in writing about an incident." Additionally, a community services officer resume shows how community services officers use communication skills: "enhanced public relations skills and developed communication/action ability under emergency situations. "
Empathy. Another essential skill to perform community services officer duties is empathy. Community services officers responsibilities require that "police officers need to understand the perspectives of a variety of people in their jurisdiction and be willing to help the public." Community services officers also use empathy in their role according to a real resume snippet: "developed an understanding of the criminal justice system terminology, and established good relationships with mentors and peers. "
Good judgment. This is an important skill for community services officers to perform their duties. For an example of how community services officer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "police and detectives must be able to determine the best way to solve an array of problems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a community services officer: "provided public safety maintained order, and promoted good community relations. ".
Leadership skills. For certain community services officer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "leadership skills." The day-to-day duties of a community services officer rely on this skill, as "police officers must be comfortable with being a highly visible member of their community, as the public looks to them for help in emergencies." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what community services officers do: "provided leadership and support to the community during fires, gas leaks, and other emergency situations. "
Physical strength. A commonly-found skill in community services officer job descriptions, "physical strength" is essential to what community services officers do. Community services officer responsibilities rely on this skill because "police officers must be strong enough to physically apprehend suspects and to assist people in precarious situations." You can also see how community services officer duties rely on physical strength in this resume example: "monitored and physically inspected building security to include an inspection of the holding facility. "
The three companies that hire the most community services officers are:
- Bank of America2 community services officers jobs
- Citi2 community services officers jobs
- Americorps2 community services officers jobs
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Compare different community services officers
Community services officer vs. Loss prevention agent
A loss prevention agent is responsible for averting theft and securing a retail store or similar establishment. They are primarily in charge of monitoring surveillance cameras and roaming around the premises while dressed in civilian clothing, all to observe the surroundings and spot any suspicious behavior. Furthermore, a loss prevention agent must adhere to the policies and standards of the establishment, implement safety and security measures, and coordinate with the police should there be any person caught stealing.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a community services officer are more likely to require skills like "public safety," "traffic control," "parking enforcement," and "rehabilitation." On the other hand, a job as a loss prevention agent requires skills like "loss prevention," "store management," "sales floor," and "customer service." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Loss prevention agents really shine in the retail industry with an average salary of $31,109. Comparatively, community services officers tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $42,187.loss prevention agents tend to reach similar levels of education than community services officers. In fact, loss prevention agents are 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Community services officer vs. Security guard
Security guards are responsible for maintaining and ensuring the peace and safety of the building they are assigned to. They ensure that everyone who enters the building has official business to be done in the building. They are also in charge of patrolling and monitoring activities within the area. Security guards are also tasked to immobilize anyone who seems to pose a threat to the peace and safety of the building. They are also responsible for preventing any untoward incidences or crimes that may happen in the area. Security guards must be observant and alert to be able to succeed in their roles.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real community services officer resumes. While community services officer responsibilities can utilize skills like "public safety," "rehabilitation," "criminal justice," and "animal control," security guards use skills like "customer service," "ladders," "security services," and "law enforcement."
Security guards may earn a lower salary than community services officers, but security guards earn the most pay in the utilities industry with an average salary of $30,916. On the other hand, community services officers receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $42,187.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Security guards tend to reach similar levels of education than community services officers. In fact, they're 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Community services officer vs. Criminal investigator
A criminal investigator is a law enforcement professional who endeavors to solve felony crimes. Criminal investigators may work alone or as a member of an investigative team whose goal is to uncover the certainty of a case and potentially keep suspects to prevent the ensuing criminal activity. Their tasks and responsibilities depend on various job functions and specialties. They may specialize in the information and evidence of a crime scene, conduct interviews and searches, or perform surveillance.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a community services officer is likely to be skilled in "public safety," "traffic control," "parking enforcement," and "rehabilitation," while a typical criminal investigator is skilled in "investigative reports," "resourcefulness," "firearms," and "treasury."
Criminal investigators make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $52,921. On the other hand, community services officers are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $42,187.When it comes to education, criminal investigators tend to earn higher degree levels compared to community services officers. In fact, they're 6.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Community services officer vs. Security specialist
A security specialist is responsible for maintaining the security of an organization's database, ensuring that it's free from cyber threats and unusual activities. Security specialists' duties include upgrading hardware and software applications, configuring networks to improve optimization, addressing any unauthorized access on the database, troubleshooting system discrepancies, conducting security audits on the system, and improving automated processes. A security specialist must have a strong command of programming languages and system codes, as well as broad experience with technical expertise.
Types of community services officer
Updated January 8, 2025
