Community Service Officer - Limited Term

City of Bend; Bend (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Bend invites applications for Community Service Officer (CSO) positions as a structured 24-month term designed to prepare candidates for sworn Police Officer duties. CSOs will gain hands-on patrol exposure, engage with the community, assist in investigations, and learn department procedures under supervision.

Successful CSOs will develop foundational law-enforcement competencies, adapt to fast-paced environments, and demonstrate readiness for academy entry by the end of the track.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Must pass comprehensive background, medical, and psychological evaluations and obtain CJIS clearance.

Responsibilities

• Respond to citizen requests and enforce city codes and ordinances.
• Perform vehicle abatement and arrange towing for public hazards.
• Investigate non-violent crimes, prepare records, and testify in court as needed.
• Attend judicial proceedings and provide credible testimony.

Skills

Typing

Clerical

Office equipment

Evidence collection

Animal handling

Driving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

LEDS

Job description

Launch Your Law Enforcement Career: Community Service Officer (CSO) to Police Officer in Two Years!

The City of Bend Police Department is actively recruiting for four (4) Limited Term Community Service Officer positions anticipated assignments to last up to 24 months. These positions are represented by the Bend Police Association and is FLSA non-exempt (overtime eligible).

The Community Service Officer (CSO) role is a structured 24-month limited term assignment designed to build the knowledge, skills, and experience required to transition into a fully sworn Police Officer position. During this two-year period, CSOs gain hands-on exposure to patrol operations, community engagement, investigative support, and department procedures while working closely with sworn personnel. The role emphasizes professional growth, mastery of foundational law-enforcement competencies, and preparation for the physical, academic, and ethical demands of police work.

By the end of the 24-month track, CSOs are expected to demonstrate readiness for police academy entry, including strong communication skills, sound decision-making, familiarity with local laws and ordinances, and a proven commitment to public service. This pathway offers a clear, guided transition from civilian support duties to sworn responsibilities, setting candidates up for success as Police Officers.

If you're looking for a position that blends responsibility, variety, and the chance to grow within law enforcement, the CSO role is your next move. Join us in keeping Bend safe, efficient, and thriving—one call at a time.

Classification Framework: Class Specifications | Community Service Officer | Class Spec Details

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification. Shown are duties intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

As the Community Service Officer (CSO) you will:

• Respond to citizen requests/calls for information, assistance, or complaints. Enforces related city codes and ordinances, issues citations as appropriate.
• Perform vehicle abatement functions; prepare abandoned vehicle descriptions; arrange for towing of vehicles that are public hazards, have an expired registration or have not been attended to.
• Investigate traffic crashes, crimes that are not in progress, misdemeanors, theft of service complaints and civil infractions; prepare accurate records and reports to document incidents. Testifies in court as needed.
• Attends judicial proceedings, presents evidence, and provides credible testimony.
• May assist in the processing of applications for city licenses, including photographing, fingerprinting, and conducting background investigations using LEDS.
• Perform animal apprehension, transport, rescue, and control work.
• Aid in investigations; collect and preserve evidence; maintain accurate and up-to-date records; testify in court.
• Direct and control traffic, crowds, and congestion during emergency situations or special events.
• Comply with safety requirements of the position and actively promotes safe work practices.
• In an emergency event or an officially declared State of Emergency, responds as directed to ensure the restoration of essential public services, facilities, and infrastructure.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Ability:

• Interacting with the public and co-workers in a tactful, courteous, and effective manner in both office and public settings.
• Understanding and executing verbal and written instructions.
• Coping with animals of varying temperaments.
• Operating large vehicles.
• Maintaining thorough and accurate records.
• Typing and making routine mathematical computations accurately and in a timely manner.
• Basic investigation skills.
• Working independently when needed with minimum direction, while also working as part of a team.
• Demonstrate high diligence.
• Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Be mobile in all extremities, ability to negotiate external stairways in inclement weather and ability to perform occasional heavy lifting.
• Occasionally travel locally and regionally.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 21 years of age; AND
• High School Diploma or GED, AND
• Experience and/or training in general clerical and typing work, operation of office equipment and machines, property maintenance and evidence collection, working with animals OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

• Must successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation including criminal history check, medical evaluation, psychological evaluation and obtain an Oregon State Police Criminal Justice Information Systems clearance.
• Current and valid Driver's license per City policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.

Desired (but not required) Attributes:

• One (1) year of experience in a similar position and/or performing similar tasks.

Work Environment:

CSOs operate in diverse conditions—indoors, outdoors, and in all types of weather. You will need to be comfortable driving a department vehicle in varying conditions and physically capable of handling tasks such as lifting and animal apprehension.

Application Deadline:

Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Standard Time

Application Requirements:

• A completed online application
• A cover letter explaining how you meet the minimum requirements and why you are interested in this role.

Anticipated Hiring Process:

• Review of submitted applications: October 14-21
• Web-Based interview: October 27-29
• In-Person Oral Board Interview: November 17-19
• Background investigation, psychological testing, and a full physical test: November 23-December 28th.
• Tentative Start Date: January 12, 2027,, and March 16, 2027

Veterans' Preference:

Applicants must provide certification that they are a veteran or disabled veteran to receive veteran's preference. For more information click here

Equity Statement:

The City of Bend remains committed to building a workforce that advances diversity and inclusion within our community and all we do. We recognize that not everyone starts from the same place, and that gender, race and ability, sexual orientation, and other identities face different barriers. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to creating an inclusive, safe, and respectful workplace where employees can thrive without these barriers. A more extended version of the City of Bend's Organizational Equity Statement is available upon request.

Benefits:

The City of Bend offers an excellent competitive benefits package for Employees and Dependents for health and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and a robust paid leave program. Details are available on the benefits tab of the job posting.

Starting Compensation:

Starting compensation is determined based on a pay equity analysis considering the candidate's education, applicable work experience, and internal equity. Please include all relevant information in your application.

Please note that this announcement establishes an eligibility list that at any time may be canceled at the discretion of the Police Chief.