Police Community Service Officer I / II

Police Community Service Officer

To perform a variety of non-sworn, field and related administrative support duties related to public safety activities and programs; to perform non-sworn patrol functions; to conduct transactions that involve the public, courts, various City departments, and other public and law enforcement agencies; to answer emergency calls and properly relay information to field units, the public, and other law enforcement agencies; and to coordinate neighborhood watch activities requiring the preparation and presentation of educational materials. Assignments are typically on a rotational basis.

Police Community Service Officer I - This is the entry level class in the Police Community Service Officer series. Positions in this class typically have little or no directly related work experience. The Police Community Service Officer I class is distinguished from the II level by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the II level. Incumbents work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks, progressing to general supervision as procedures and processes of assigned area of responsibility are learned. Police Community Service Officer II - This is the journey level class in the Police Community Service Officer series and is distinguished from the I level by the assignment of the full range of duties. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new, unusual, or unique situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the I level.

Upcoming Salary Increases and Incentives :

3% effective 7 / 1 / 2026

2.5% Education Incentive - Bachelor's Degree at time of hire

5% Education Incentive - Master's Degree at time of hire

Application Process :

Applicants will be assessed on the application submitted. Due to the volume of applications received, resumes will not be screened for the purpose of determining who is the most qualified to compete in the testing process. It is the applicant's responsibility to fill out the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application with complete information and adequate detail.

Tentative Schedule : TestGenius Online Math and Language Arts Exam

October 31, 2025- November 11, 2025

The Human Resources Department reserves the right to revise the testing process to best meet the needs of the City. We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Hiring Incentives :

New hires will begin employment with 20 hours of sick leave and 20 hours of vacation time placed in their leave balances upon date of hire.

Any lateral hire to any position assigned to the Police Department will accrue leave balances based on their years of experience in a prior public safety position.

Contact :

Should you have any questions email Jeff Montgomery at jemontgomery@modestogov.com

Observe and report hazardous conditions, obstructions to traffic, and other emergencies.

Serve as court and District Attorney liaison; assemble reports; maintain files, subpoenas, citations, warrants, logs, permits, and a variety of other documents; submit information to other agencies and departments, as necessary.

Coordinate scheduled court appearances for department personnel; maintain records and statistics; process court papers and serve subpoenas; testify in court, as required.

Respond to questions from the public regarding law enforcement activities and Community Oriented Policing.

Respond to, investigate, and document a variety of criminal, non-criminal, and traffic related incidents (not requiring a sworn officer).

Direct traffic at special events, signal outages, and fire, crime, and accident scenes.

Identify and tow abandoned vehicles, as authorized; recover stolen vehicles when found unattended.

Prepare and complete a variety of investigative and incident reports; write a variety of reports relating to assigned area of responsibility; assist with telephone and public counter inquiries.

Process crime scenes and evidence for fingerprints; analyze evidence and fingerprints; photograph crime scenes, victims, evidence, and property; collect, receive, and store property and evidence according to prescribed procedures; search prisoners.

Investigate missing persons and runaways; take reports; enter information into a computerized system; assist with the search for missing persons.

Maintain abandoned vehicle database; send letters to vehicle and private property owners regarding abandoned vehicles.

Coordinate and provide various public education presentations; develop outreach materials.

Perform administrative support and data entry functions, as required.

May coordinate Neighborhood Watch activities, including identifying topics and coordinating speakers, conducting neighborhood, multi-housing, and business security checks, and developing recommendations for improving security.

May track program statistics and budget; prepare reports, as required; ensure all grant requirements are met.

May register and update information on sex and arson offenders, including scheduling appointments for offenders to be fingerprinted, DNA samples obtained, photographs taken, and registration completed.

Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City staff, and the public using principles of good customer service.

Observe and maintain a safe working environment in compliance with established safety programs and procedures.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of :

Principles and practices of customer service.

Principles and practices of record keeping and filing.

Correct English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Principles and practices of work safety.

Procedures and techniques for dealing with the public in a tactful but firm manner.

Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to :

Learn to perform a variety of non-sworn duties related to supporting law enforcement activities.

Learn to direct and control traffic, including during special events and / or emergency situations.

Learn to prepare factual, clear, and concise reports related to criminal and non-criminal activities.

Learn to interpret, explain, and apply City and department policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.

Deal tactfully with the public in general and in difficult work situations.

Read maps and learn the City's geography.

Use sound judgment in decision making.

Preserve confidentiality of sensitive materials.

Think and act quickly in emergency situations.

Prepare and maintain accurate and grammatically correct written reports and records.

Understand and carry out oral and written directions.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

Experience and Training Guidelines :

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

Experience : One year of experience dealing with the public in an enforcement, inspection, investigation, or customer service capacity. Previous experience enforcing municipal codes is desirable.

Training : High School diploma or GED equivalency.

License or Certificate : Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license.

Mobility : frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending or squatting. Lifting : frequently up to 50 pounds; occasionally up to 75 pounds. Vision : constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision. 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; occasional working alone. Environmental : frequent exposure to noise and traffic, chemicals, firearms, controlled substances and biologically contaminated substances. Work is performed in either a typical temperature controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and environment or an outside environment with exposure to a variety of climates, traffic and hazardous situations. Some positions may be assigned to remote locations. Many patrol positions work a rotating schedule with regular weekend and holiday work. Positions require occasional overtime work and travel is rare.