Community Action Officers - Job Description And Responsibilities

Edited Information by Lt. Chuck Williams - Cactus Park Precinct

Regarding the Community Action Officers goals and duties, I researched the archives and found the following write up. I'm sure you already know this, but the CAO concept was proposed, accepted, and approved by the City Council many years ago. Granted it was by a different name back then, but it took the City Council's approval to get the additional bodies for this program in the first place. Here is a list of their responsibilities:

A. General Functions:
1. Responsible for an assigned geographical area within a precinct
2. Provide support to patrol officers working within their area
3. Serve as a liaison for the public and the police department
4. Serve as a liaison for the city managers office and the police department
5. Serve as a liaison for the public and local government
6. Maintain current crime trends in their areas
7. Serve as a liaison for local businesses and the police department
8. Collect intelligence related to criminal activity and disseminate it to officers, details, NET officer, or citizen that may be impacted by the information
9. Provide line support for the field, and other details during high profile incidents.
10. Network with NET and provide support for the Net teams in operations that impact the community safety.

B. Neighborhood complaints
1. Evaluate speed complaints (forward to traffic, radar trailer, etc.)
2. Criminal activity complaints (drug houses, chop shops, etc.)
a) Evaluate it\ Research it
b) Disseminate it
c) Dispose of erroneous information

C. Liaison with non police agencies and departments
1. Zoning issues
2. Public safety issues

D. Community meetings
1. Community Alliance meetings
2. Block Watch
3. Any community oriented meeting where a representative from the police department would be beneficial

E. Community Proactive Programs
1. Neighborhood clean-up
2. Crime prevention booth
3. Crime prevention articles and interviews
4. Author articles for the local papers
5. Home security checks
6. Business security check
7. Self protection / safety awareness
8. Officer Friendly / Stranger Danger program
9. Bike safety
10. Gun safety
11. Baby sitting safety
12. Crime prevention techniques
13. Auto theft prevention programs
14. Articles for the precincts newsletter

F. The don'ts
1. Take normal field reports unless directed to do so by a supervisor
2. Investigate crimes unless directed to do so by a supervisor
3. Fix field officers mistakes
4. Engage in neighborhood mediation
5. Take citizen's complaints about officers

G. Fight back program
1. Liaison with the other departments and agencies

The Community Action Detail is a resource to assist the field supervisors, officers, detectives, community leaders, and citizens. It is not responsible for beats or squad areas; this still belongs to the field sergeants and officers.