Community Service Officer (CSO)
Community Service Officers are non-sworn personnel who support the department through safety and security-related services across the campuses UPD serves.
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Two years of public contact experience
- Valid driver’s license
- Background investigation required
- CPR / First Aid may be required
- Ability to work varied shifts
What CSOs Do
- Patrol campus buildings and grounds
- Provide safety escorts
- Respond to non-confrontational calls
- Assist with public safety services
- Support outreach and campus events
- Observe and report suspicious activity
Work Environment
- Serve across campuses supported by UPD
- Work under the direction of department supervisors
- Support safety and security in a non-sworn role
- Assist students, faculty, staff, and visitors
Community Service Officer FAQs
Community Service Officers are non-sworn personnel who support the University Police Department by performing a variety of safety and security-related duties across the campuses served by UPD.
CSOs assist sworn officers and the campus community by:
- Conducting walking patrols of buildings and grounds
- Providing walking safety escorts
- Responding to non-emergency service calls
- Assisting with campus events and outreach activities
- Monitoring facilities and reporting safety concerns
- Completing reports for property intake or other incidents
- Assisting with lockouts, jump-starts, and other public assistance services
CSOs play an important role in helping maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
No. Community Service Officers are non-sworn personnel.
During criminal incidents, CSOs observe and report information to sworn officers. CSOs do not detain or pursue suspects and do not use hands-on enforcement techniques unless necessary to protect themselves or others from immediate harm, or when directed by a supervisor and deemed safe to do so.
Minimum qualifications typically include:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Two years of public contact work that involved applying or implementing rules, policies, or procedures
- Valid driver’s license
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, or holidays if required
Some positions may also require CPR and First Aid certification as a condition of employment.
CSOs assist the department with a wide variety of tasks, including:
- Maintaining radio communication and responding to calls for service
- Monitoring buildings and grounds for safety or security concerns
- Reporting emergency situations to police personnel
- Providing safety escorts
- Assisting campus departments and special events
- Submitting work orders for safety or maintenance issues
- Collecting and documenting found property
- Observing and reporting suspicious activity
Community Service Officers may be assigned to any campus served by the University Police Department, including:
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
- Thomas and Mack
- College of Southern Nevada (CSN)
- Desert Research Institute (DRI)
Schedules may vary depending on operational needs and campus assignments. Some positions may require working evenings, weekends, or holidays.
Yes. All CSO candidates must successfully complete a criminal background investigation as part of the hiring process.
Additional screening or testing may also be required depending on the position.
Community Service Officer positions are posted through Workday. Applicants can view and apply for open positions through the University Police Department employment page.
Many individuals gain valuable experience working as Community Service Officers and later apply for sworn police officer positions. While the CSO role is not a requirement for becoming an officer, it can provide valuable exposure to law enforcement operations and campus safety services.