SUPPORT SERVICES COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS There are currently three part-time Community Service Officers (CSO) working for the Owatonna Police Department. The CSOs support the efforts of the department by providing services to the community while also supporting other divisions within the police department. The CSOs are knowledgeable and flexible in their assignments as they are asked to perform duties from every division within the Owatonna Police Department. The current climate within police agencies is that they are becoming increasingly constrained because of budgetary concerns and the need to serve a larger or growing community. In this environment, the position of the CSO is considered a blessing for both the departments and communities they serve in. CSOs typically are paid significantly less than sworn officers, allowing departments to field more people for the same amount of money. This has the effect of providing quicker response times to citizen requests for police services. Further, CSOs usually handle lower priority calls which do not require an armed police officer with arrest powers thus freeing sworn officers to concentrate on those incidents requiring their specific skill set. Even a few CSOs can have a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of police services that departments provide. CSOs are tasked with multiple duties such as: traffic control at vehicle collisions, public events, traffic signal outages, patrol the city parks and schools, issue parking tickets, community relations including crime prevention and responding to requests for information. Working closely with the Owatonna Park and Recreation Department, they look for signs of vandalism to city parks and trails as well as assist with locking park buildings at park closing times. CSOs may respond to minor calls such as minor accidents, thefts and vandalism. In addition, they assist parking control when necessary. Ordinance violations, junk vehicle complaints, and house checks are also the responsibility of the CSO. Squad maintenance is assigned to the CSOs. The CSOs record monthly vehicle mileage for all police vehicles, track problems with squad cars and arrange for maintenance and repair with the city maintenance shop. They also assist with portable radio repair and maintain the LIDAR equipment. The community service officer also plays a vital role in the community by providing funeral escorts, assisting with Safety Camp each summer, parade assistance, security for community events, and providing the opportunity for citizens to view squad cars and other police equipment at various community organizations and events. A significant change in duties for our CSOs came about in the middle of 2011. The department previously contracted animal control services to an independent civilian; however, in an attempt to provide the same service in a more economically efficient and effective method, existing CSOs were assigned those duties. CSOs are primarily tasked with responding to domestic animal calls for service, maintaining the animal control facility and impounded animals, and investigating and/or following up on animal bite calls.
OWATONNA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
