Community Services Officer (Public Safety Officer I)

Aiken Police Department; Aiken (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Aiken is seeking a Community Services Officer (PSO I) to serve as a liaison between the Public Safety Department and neighborhoods. You will patrol in uniform, address crime, and collaborate with residents and businesses to improve services and quality of life.

Responsibilities include responding to fires, enforcing traffic laws, conducting searches, and assisting with court security. Strong interpersonal skills and a valid license are required.

Qualifications

• Two years of continuous service as a certified law enforcement officer.
• High school diploma or equivalent; associate level degree desirable.
• Valid state driver’s license with satisfactory driving record.
• Analytical abilities and sound judgment in fast-paced situations.
• Interpersonal skills to interact with citizens, businesses and colleagues.
• Public relations skills to engage with neighborhood groups and civic organizations.

Responsibilities

• Direct liaison between Department and neighborhoods; communicate resident concerns.
• Patrol city streets in uniform to deter crime and enforce laws; identify hazards.
• Respond to fire emergencies; operate fire equipment and participate in fire suppression.
• Promote working relationships with neighborhood associations and civic groups.
• Direct traffic at scenes; transport prisoners and perform court security duties.
• Prepare and maintain departmental records, reports and warrants as needed.
• Conduct public outreach on safety, crime prevention and traffic safety.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical abilities

Public relations

Resident relations

Attention to detail

Situational awareness

Team collaboration

Crisis awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree desirable

Tools

Computer skills

Job description

The City of Aiken is accepting applications for a Community Services Offer (PSO I) to join our Public Safety Department.

This position serves as a direct liaison between the Department and their assigned neighborhoods by maintaining open lines of communication with residents and businesses, identifying neighborhood concerns, and working collaboratively to improve services, address crime, and resolve quality of life issues.

Patrols City streets and residential areas in uniform to provide a visible deterrent and to enforce laws and protect life and property; identifies traffic hazards; monitors, commercial, industrial and residential areas for signs of any criminal activity; patrols for suspicious persons or vehicles.

Responds to fire emergencies including vehicles, woods, grass, structures, and miscellaneous fires; operates fire truck, pump and auxiliary equipment; participates in fire suppression activities including search and rescue, fire attack, ventilation, exposure protection, and property salvage; obtains proper pressures on various fire attack hose lines; lays and connects hoses, holds nozzles and directs fog, chemical, and water stream, raises and climbs ladders, and uses chemical extinguishes, bars, hooks, lines, and related equipment; participates in clean up and salvage operations.

Promote and maintain effective working relationships with neighborhood associations and civic organizations.

• Detects drunk drivers and performs sobriety evaluations as well as general observations of DUI suspect speech, appearance, comprehension of instructions, and performance; books DUI suspects and completes all related reports and records.
• Responds to calls for assistance and complaints of crimes; responds to 911 medical calls, enforces state statute by performing warrant, felony, or misdemeanor arrests; implements physical confrontation when necessary to afflict on arrests and processes prisoners including booking, fingerprinting, and photographing. Assists animal control officer as needed.
• Responds to provide aid and assistance to victims of automobile injury accidents; assists emergency personnel in providing first aid care for victims of traffic and other accidents.
• Secures and protects crime scenes by establishing boundaries, detaining victims, suspects and witnesses, locating, and identifying evidence and briefing supervisors/investigators on their arrival. Collects evidence and processes crime scenes (fingerprints, photographs, etc.). Investigates crimes committed by juvenile offenders or committed against juvenile victims.
• Maintains a working knowledge of all traffic laws; enforces traffic laws through the issuance of traffic citations and warnings and arresting individuals in violation of the law.
• Prepares and maintains a wide variety of departmental records and reports in compliance with departmental policies and procedures; prepares case reports outlining complete information regarding each case; prepares warrants as needed.
• Conducts search and rescue operations for missing and overdue persons; assists in man-hunts for dangerous criminals;
• Researches and studies departmental policies and procedures, state and federal statutes, and maps to maintain awareness of current events and changes in law enforcement. Maintains an accurate knowledge of businesses and residential areas in assigned beats.
• Inspects, maintains, and cleans assigned uniform, vehicle, and police and fire equipment; maintains personal hygiene in accordance with departmental policy and procedures.
• Participates in scheduled and unscheduled police and fire training.
• Provides security at special events, including but not limited to parades and festivals.
• Develops and maintains cooperative relationships with other City departments, outside vendors and the general public contacted in the course of work; assists in resolving problems or complaints. Performs surveys for speeding violators based on public concerns or traffic collision data. Obtains continuing education credits for recertification and attends mandated yearly training.

Other Responsibilities

• Directs traffic at fire scenes, accidents, crime scenes, and at other times as needed.
• Transports prisoners to and from jail; performs court security duties. Performs prisoner extraditions in and out of state.
• Maintains availability for court appearances and testimony, assists the prosecutor's office in preparing presentation of testimony and/or evidence; responds to subpoenas by attending court trials and provides court testimonies as required.
• Performs public relations activities; speaks to students, civic groups, and other community organizations regarding drug awareness, fire prevention and safety, crime prevention, traffic safety, handgun safety, and other related areas; gives tours of facilities. Organizes neighborhood associations and community programs and events; works with other community organizations.
• Serving outstanding warrants for felonies and serious crimes as well as assisting other Division in locating witnesses and felons;
• Performing special task force details, such as stake out operations, searching for escapees and VIP security details;
• Assisting with the Narcotics Detection/Tracking Canine activities as needed; controlling crowds and searching for wanted or missing persons; assisting other emergency response agencies in emergency situations.

• Two (2) years of continuous services as a certified law enforcement officer
• High school diploma or equivalent; associate level degree desirable.
• Valid state driver's license and a satisfactory motor vehicle record.
• Analytical abilities necessary to make sound, logical decisions quickly and sound judgment is required to act in best interest of citizens and jurisdiction.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to be understood by and courteous of fellow employees, citizens, and businesses while performing law enforcement and fire response duties.
• Computer skills necessary to compl