Community Service Officer

IntroDuction:

The Community Service Officer Program is a support function of the University Police Department. As a component of the department's Crime Prevention Unit, the 25 student employees serve in a wide range of duties such as provide fire and medical escorts and assist in building evacuations during emergencies. See below for further information.

What does a CSO do?

The primary duty of the CSO is to observe and report suspicious activities or incidents to the University Police Department. The CSOs patrol using a variety of methods including marked vehicle patrol, bike patrol, cart patrol, foot patrol, and site security. Beyond patrol, CSOs perform safety escorts, traffic control, loss prevention, fire watch, report writing, library patrol, building lockup, and they secure and unlock the campus. Other functions include assisting investigations and assisting the department's evidence custodian.

What does a CSO look like?

While the CSO program is a reflection of the diversity and variety of the student population and the campus community, the uniforms for the CSO program have been standardized. The primary uniform of a CSO is a yellow polo-style shirt, with the California State University Police Badge embroidered on the front, and the words "Community Service Officer" in blue lettering on the back. The uniform shirt for a senior CSO is a light blue uniform with California State University Police patches and a CSO badge.

During the cold or rainy season, CSOs may wear a yellow jacket with the words "Community Service Officer" in blue lettering on the back of the jacket.

How do I get a safety escort?

If you are concerned for your safety, a CSO may provide you with a safety escort. To request an escort, all you have to do is pick up any campus phone and dial ext. 2515. If necessary, you may use any emergency blue phone on campus. The dispatcher will confirm your location and may ask your name or description of your clothing. This will allow us to locate you more quickly on a busy campus. A CSO will then be sent to meet you.

How can I get my classroom or office door opened?

During business hours, please contact your department office for a door unlock.

If you are a faculty member, and need a classroom or lecture hall unlocked for a class, or your office door to be opened, call ext. 2515 and give the dispatcher the number of the room. You will be asked to present a faculty TitanCard for the CSO to open an office door.

If you are a student, and have a room reserved, you will need to have the room permit (may also be called an after-hours permit, a room request, or a room authorization form) and your TitanCard or government issued identification card, and call ext. 2515, giving the dispatcher the number of the room, your name, and whether you have your room permit and ID ready.

NOTE: Students not possessing both a room permit and ID will not be given access to the room. Students occupying a room after-hours may be asked to present a valid permit and ID by any member of the University Police Department, and will be asked to leave if not in possession of both the permit and the ID.

History:

The Community Service Officer Program was founded at CSUF in March of 1989. The program initially employed roughly fifteen student employees, to perform basic public services to the campus community. Since the program's inception, hundreds of CSUF students have worked in the CSO program, some becoming police officers at the local, state, and federal levels after leaving CSUF. Law enforcement goals are not and have never been requirements for working with the CSO program; Community Service Officers have represented a wide range of majors from the many colleges on the CSUF campus, and have gone on to an even wider range of professions, including accounting, advertising, law, health care, teaching, and the arts.

How can I become a Community Service Officer?

If you are interested in becoming a Community Service Officer, are a currently enrolled student of CSUF, and maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA, you may be able to become a CSO. To get an application, stop by the CSUF University Police Department and pick one up from the front counter. If you have questions, you may call the Community Services Office at (657) 278 - 5533 to speak directly to a supervisor or to leave a message.