Applications will be accepted throughout Spring and Summer for:

Community Service Officer (CSO)

• The Position
• Requirements
• Salary Range
• How To Apply
• The Application Process
• More Information

The Position
The CSO program is service-oriented. CSOs are non-confrontational and do not act as law enforcement officers.

Duties include (but not limited to):
• Operating the Night Escort Service for members of the campus community.
• Conducting security foot patrols of campus proper, outlying campus properties, the student residence halls, and Memorial Stadium.
• The reporting of any situation requiring a police response.
• Providing general support for the University Police Department, including staffing for special events. (i.e. concerts, dances, sport events etc)

Job Types: Community Service Officer duties may include:
• BearWALK Service (Nighttime Escort) /Owl Service (Van Rides)
• Traffic Direction
• Housing Patrol
• Summer Hill Patrol
• Bicycle Patrol
• Crime Prevention Unit Specialist
• Special Event Security
• Office of Emergency Preparedness Specialist
• Dispatching
• Public Relations

Requirements
• Applicant must be a UC Berkeley student in good academic standing.
• Applicant must have a valid California Drivers' License.
• Applicant must be prepared to work 14-20 hours per week, including evening, night, and weekend shifts.
• Applicant must pass a background investigation.
• Applicant must be able to work late night and early morning shifts, some lasting until 6 A.M.
• Applicant must be in good physical condition, able to walk 6-12 miles per night, and have vision correctable for safe and legal operation of a standard-equipped motor vehicle.
• Applicant must be able to walk up and down long flights of stairs at Memorial Stadium.
• Applicant must be able to quickly and accurately manipulate the controls of a police radio, and be able to communicate effectively with and clearly hear and understand a police dispatcher, via radio.
• Applicant must be able to effectively use a flashlight to illuminate dark areas.
• Applicant must be able to manipulate and lock padlock gates at Memorial Stadium.
• Applicant must have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations and utilize common sense.
• Applicant must have the ability to work and communicate with the general public.
• Applicant must maintain a demeanor of professionalism that is acceptable to, and expected by, the general public, and commensurate with departmental standards.
• Applicant must be able to write in a concise and legible manner.
• Applicant must be capable of following written and oral instructions.
• Applicant must be able to work with a minimum of supervision.

Salary Range
Starting at $11.90 per hour

How To Apply
1 Download the following application: CSO Application (11 pages, 469 K, PDF)
2 Print it out
3 Fill it in
4 Return it to 1 Sproul Hall

The Application Process

Completed applications should be returned to Rm. 1, Sproul Hall basement (the lobby of the Police Department). The application is located in online (click here) or in the hallway display at Rm. 1 Sproul Hall.

Hiring Process: Receipt of your application will be acknowledged via telephone. A Walk-Along and an Oral Board will be scheduled at his time.

Walk-Along: You must complete a walk-along prior to your oral board. During the walk-along, you will be paired up with an on-duty CSO for approximately one half-hour. This will allow you to experience CSO duties and to ask any questions you may have.

Oral Board Interview: The interview will consist of an oral board panel who will take turns asking you questions about yourself, and then present you with some hypothetical situations. You will be expected to explain how you would react in such situations. Your score is based on how well you answer these personal and hypothetical questions.

An example of a personal question is: "Why do you want to be a CSO?"

The following is an example of a hypothetical question: You are on duty, in uniform, equipped with a police radio and a flashlight. You are walking a student home when you hear a report on the radio of a bike theft, which just occurred, near your location. Suddenly, you see the suspect walking the bike toward you. What would you do?

The Oral Board is an important part of the hiring process, so you will want to present yourself well. Try not to be too nervous. Do not be surprised if the interviewers question your answers. They are not trying to antagonize you; they are trying to learn more about you and the reasoning behind your answers. The interview will last 30 minutes.

Notification: You will be notified of the hiring decision within 24 hours of your Oral Board interview. Offers of employment are conditional until completion of the background investigation process, which may take up to two weeks. After being offered employment, you will be required to attend a mandatory New Hire Orientation.

Applications will be accepted throughout Spring and Summer.

More Information

Visit the Community Service Officer (CSO) Program Page for more information about the CSO program.