Community Service Officers (C.S.O.'s)
The main purpose of the Community Service Officer program is to enhance our agency's law enforcement mission to promote an environment conducive to personal growth and academic achievement. C.S.O's perform as extra "eyes and ears" of the police department. The C.S.O.'s report all observed and known violations of State Law and University Rules to the U.W.O. Police Communications Center. In addition, the C.S.O.'s any maintenance, security, and safety problems they find during their shift.
C.S.O.'s patrol in pairs, on foot, mainly during the evening and night time hours. They perform a variety of duties including: assisting police officers or staff members when requested, responding to fire and medical calls, and reporting to the officers any activities which are suspicious or illegal. The C.S.O.'s are also responsible for maintaining security on campus. During each patrol shift, all residence hall exterior doors and basement "common areas" are checked.
Along with patrolling the campus, the C.S.O.'s are trained to be police dispatchers. In functioning as a dispatcher, the C.S.O.'s learn to take emergency and non-emergency phone calls, communicate directly with police officers via radio, operate Mobile Data Terminals, moniter alarms, and various other tasks. The dispatch shifts vary between day, evening, and night hours since the U.W.O. Police Department functions twenty-four hours a day.
The C.S.O. program is an excellent way for Criminal Justice majors to gain experience and knowledge about the field of law enforcement.