Whether they’re providing an evening escort, patrolling campus buildings, or answering questions about the university, our Community Service Officers (CSOs) are the “eyes and ears” of the UCLA Police Department.
Ever-present on campus, CSOs act as a visible deterrent to crime. Perhaps best known for providing evening escorts available 365 days a year from dusk until 1 a.m., that only encompasses around 8% of CSO shifts. They also patrol many buildings on campus including residence halls and libraries, with their presence allowing some spaces to stay open outside normal business hours during evenings and weekends.
When emergency services are needed such as police, fire, or medical personnel, CSO’s use a two-way radio to call for assistance. They are not required to intervene or endanger themselves, but are trained to describe the situation so the proper response arrives in a minimal amount of time.
Aside from their campus safety duties, CSOs also serve as the public face of the police department. As the most visible members of UCPD, they are approached all the time with questions about UCLA including directions to campus buildings or parking structures.
CSO’s are full-time UCLA students who pass a three-part hiring process consisting of an application, interview, and background check. Once hired, their training includes 2-3 hours in the classroom and then 30 hours out in the field with a Field Training Officer.
Benefits of being a CSO include competitive pay starting at $18.00 per hour and helping people in a variety of ways, according to CSO Program managers Matt Ellis and Sarah Parga.
“CSOs can work inside or outside, get to meet a lot of different people, and pick their own schedules,” says Sarah.
They also take pride in the important services they provide to the campus community.
“CSOs have saved lives by calling an ambulance and sending them to a hospital,” says Matt. “It’s really gratifying to be a part of the program.”
