HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. Presentation on the Community Service Officer Program Item 4a
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 5/3/2023
Item Number: 4a
FROM: Nestor Veloz-Passalacqua, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager
Phone Number: (805) 781-7073
E-mail: nveloz@slocity.org
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION ON COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
The Human Relations Commission will receive information about the Community
Services Officer (CSO) Program from Police Chief, Rick Scott, and will provide feedback.
BACKGROUND
This presentation is an introduction to the Community Service Officer (CSO) Program.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department will begin implementing the Community Service
Officer Program in late Spring 2023. This new program , which consists of four (4) non-
sworn civilian employees, will help with the Department’s main purpose: to build
community. The focus of the CSOs is to address quality-of-life issues and respond to non-
criminal infractions. There has been input and feedback from Council along with support
from the City Manager, HR, and the Police Department to make this program possible.
NEXT STEPS
Commissioners receive presentation and provide feedback to Police Chief, Rick Scott.
ATTACHMENT
A – Introduction to the Community Service Office Program
Page 11 of 21
Page 12 of 21
City of San Luis Obispo, Police Department, 1042 Walnut Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-2729, 805.781.7317, slocity.org
April 26, 2023
TO: Human Relations Commission
FROM: Rick Scott, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Introduction to the Community Service Officer Program
DATE: 4/26/2023
Dear HRC,
I would like to brief you on an exciting new program from the San Luis Obispo Police
Department. In late spring (2023) our new Community Service Officer team will hit the
streets of SLO.
This new team of four (4) non-sworn, civilian employees will help accomplish the complete
expansion of the old Field Service Technician program with a new purpose in building
community. With input and feedback from Council, the new six (6) person team will sport a
new look with logo polos shirts and khaki style utility pants. More importantly, these non-
sworn officers will greatly help our attention to the downtown core by providing
personalized services to our business community, residents, and visitors. Paramount to their
purpose is fostering community connections and delivering personalized services.
CSOs will exclusively focus on quality-of-life issues by rapidly responding to non-criminal
infractions, such as drinking, smoking, noise, blocking right of way, and minor disturbances
of the peace. Community Service Officers will build effective partnerships with community
stakeholders and allow sworn Police Officers to focus on more serious calls for service. Our
CSO team will have a variety of available patrol modalities being bike, vehicle, but most
commonly on foot. While our new team has been hired, they will be very busy for several
weeks going through the necessary training before engaging the community.
I am very proud of this program and know their impact will be felt immediately and
appreciated by our community. I want to give a very special thanks to City Manager Derek
Johnson, our HR team, and police department for their support in helping this idea become a
reality for our city, furthering our new brand of policing.
I welcome this team and support their success in this new and important role for our
department and community.
Sincerely,
Rick Scott, Chief of Police
San Luis Obispo Police Department
Page 13 of 21
Page 14 of 21