Community Service Officer at City of Highland Park – Highland Park, Illinois

Primary Purpose: Performs a variety of community service functions through the enforcement of City ordinances and regulations. The Community Service Officer provides services in the area of non-strict law enforcement and animal control activities, thereby freeing sworn law enforcement staff to perform duties that can only be performed by sworn law enforcement personnel.

Supervision Received: Works under the general supervision of the Administrative Sergeant.

Pay Grade: 9

Full range: $25.72 - $38.58 hourly

IMRF Pension Eligible Position

• Enforce local city codes, including but not limited to parking, animal control, nuisance, and environmental regulations.

• Provide public services, including assisting motorists, removing abandoned vehicles, filling in for school crossing guards, unlocking vehicles, inspecting and installing child safety seats, performing courier duties, fingerprinting, deploying traffic calming and data collection devices, and reporting unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Take action to prevent harm or injury to the public or employees.

• Respond to and investigate animal-related service calls. Take custody of dangerous or nuisance animals, set humane traps, and impound stray or biting animals. Maintain the City Animal Pound, care for impounded animals, and transfer unclaimed domestic animals to adoption facilities. Relocate wild animals. Prepare animal bite reports as required by state, county, and local laws. Remove and dispose of dead animals from public property.

• Book non-violent arrestees. Provide notices and immobilize eligible vehicles. Conduct taxi inspections and complete licensing documentation for taxis and drivers. Inventory property and complete general reports. Process evidence, including photographing, collecting, documenting, packaging, and preserving items.

• Assist with vehicular and pedestrian control at accident scenes, incidents, and special events. Support department training.

• Provide backup support for records personnel or other civilian staff.

• Performs other related duties as requested.

Education: Graduation from high school or GED equivalent. Some college preferred.

Experience: Previous experience working in customer service related field is preferred.

Certification or License: Must possess a valid driver’s license. Must be able to obtain Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) “less than full access” certification in first year.

Physical Demands: While performing duties, the employee is required to stand; sit and remain alert for prolonged periods of time; walk; talk; see; hear; use hands to grasp objects, operate tools and controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; taste and smell and operate equipment including office machines, computers, motor vehicles, cameras, basic tools, and other equipment as needed. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing more than 100 pounds. Emotional and psychological stability needed to:

• Effectively communicate and interact positively with fellow employees and the citizens.
• Tolerate stress and function effectively under stress.
• Act quickly, calmly, and decisively in emergencies and follow orders of supervisors.
• Courteously, firmly, and tactfully gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
• Humanely euthanize animals when necessary.
• Tolerate exposure to extreme weather conditions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Proficiencies: