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 a sworn police officer, 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 that are not considered emergencies or a matter of immediate public safety. Further, CSOs usually handle lower priority calls which do not require a licensed 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 tours and presentations. CSOs may respond to minor calls such as minor accidents, thefts and vandalism. CSOs work closely with the Owatonna Park and Recreation Department by reporting and documenting damage in the city parks and trails as well as assisting with locking park buildings at park closing times. The CSOs also work closely with our department’s fleet vehicles by monitoring mileage, scheduling routine maintenance and vehicle repairs with the public works mechanics. CSOs also patrol the city to enforce ordinance violations, junk vehicle complaints and perform house checks. 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. Our CSOs act as the primary animal control officers in the city. As a result, they are typically the responding officers to all animal related calls for service, such as a barking dog, a dog/cat biting incident or a dog/cat at large. The CSOs are responsible for the care of impounded animals being held at the Animal Control Facility and the maintenance of the Animal Control Facility. Lastly, the CSOs will investigate and follow-up with all dog/cat bite complaints to make certain the animal owner is in compliance with the state statutes related to potentially dangerous dogs and dangerous dogs.
OWATONNA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
