POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Evaluation of the
Use of Community Service
Officers
Burbank City Council
November 1, 2022
Examination of using Community
Service Officers
Option to improve effective and
efficient service delivery
Use of non-sworn employee positions
to perform non-emergency duties,
such as:
Completion of “cold” crime reports
Traffic collision reports
Response to quality of life / nuisance
complaints
The Burbank Police Department
currently utilizes two non-sworn job
classifications to perform some of
these duties
Full-time Police Technicians (8)
Records Bureau
Investigations Bureau
Traffic Bureau
Part-time Police Cadets (7)
Community events
Abandoned property
Front counter
Research, data entry, property
inventory
Survey of 13 comparable agencies in
the region.
5 use non-sworn positions to conduct
duties at the station and
non-
emergency duties in the field:
Anaheim PD
Huntington Beach PD
Pasadena PD
Santa Monica PD
South Pasadena PD
Different terms for similar positions:
Community Service Officer
Police Service Representative
Public Service Officer
Most used 8 or fewer positions.
All wore uniforms, drove marked City
vehicles, and were authorized to issue
parking citations
Duties included, but not limited to:
Traffic collision reports
“Cold” crime reports
Traffic control
Noise complaints
Pay Range – varied based on city,
seniority/steps, and duties:
$58,000 to $75,000 / year
Average annual position cost (with
benefits):
$90,055
Potential Benefits
Non-sworn career path /
development track
Reduction in demands for sworn
officer resources
Allows sworn officers to focus efforts
on proactive crime prevention and
investigation, emergency response,
community outreach, and traffic
enforcement
Reduced response times
More cost-effective allocation of
resources
Considerations
Limitations
Non-sworn staff will be unable to
enforce moving violations or criminal
code violations
Community
understanding/expectations
Safety Equipment / Training
Widely varied between agencies
From zero to defensive tactics training
/ OC / ballistic vests
Agency specific, and can be tailored to
meet the needs of the Department
The Patrol Division is structured with
Four Patrol Groups –scheduled for
24/7 coverage
One Traffic Bureau
Initial assessment and
recommendation:
Assign one CSO to each Patrol Group
and the Traffic Bureau
After a one-year assessment, the CSO
position assignments could be
expanded or adjusted to meet
identified needs
The Police Department is currently
working with Management Services
to develop the CSO classification
through the Civil Service process
A Classification Amendment Review
was submitted in September, and is
in the review process
Next steps would be consideration /
approval by the Civil Service Board
POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Questions?
Captain Adam Cornils
[email protected]
818-238-3216