103 - COMMUNITY SERVICE AIDE

COMMUNITY SERVICE AIDE EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/25/2023 STANDARD NO. 103 OBJECTIVE: To establish criteria for the Community Service Aide Program. POLICY: The utilization of Community Service Aides (CSA's) to handle a portion of non-enforcement police service calls allows sworn employees more time for enforcing laws and apprehending criminals. Additionally, the CSA Program provides the Homestead Police Department with a resource for recruiting qualified police officer candidates. SCOPE: All employees of this Department will be governed by the procedures set forth below. I. CSA Eligibility and Selection Process: A. Eligibility – to be eligible, applicants must: Be at least 18 years of age when the application is submitted. 1. 2. Be a legal resident of the United States. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent. 3. Possess a valid Florida driver license and a good driving record. 4. Possess a Police Service Aide Academy Training certificate. 5. Selection Process - B. The selection process consists of: Completing and submit a detailed application package. 1. Passing an oral interview. 2. Passing a psychological and CVSA examinations. 3. 4. Passing a background investigation. Passing a medical examination, including drug screening. 5. II. CSA PROGRAM: A. CSA Coordinator: 1. The Uniform Patrol Commander is delegated the responsibility for coordinating and overseeing the CSA program. 2. The duties of the CSA Coordinator are: a. Records – Oversee all pertinent records and documents related to the CSA program and ensure that copies are maintained by the department. b. Training – Oversee and ensure that all the training needs for the CSA program, and the program’s participants, are met by the department. c. CSA Activities – Oversee the daily activities of the CSA program and coordinating those activities with the shift supervisors. d. Equipment and Necessities - Oversee and coordinate the issuance of all equipment necessary for the CSA program and its participants. Community Service Aid – SOP# 103 III. CSA TRAINING: A. Training: All CSA’s will receive the training hours necessary to meet the requirements set by the State of Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) for traffic crash investigation through the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). B. In-Service Training: The Department is responsible for establishing and maintaining an appropriate training curriculum to maintain and enhance the required skills of the CSAs. IV. CSA UNIFORMS: A. The Department will issue footwear as well as five CSA uniforms to each program participant and will refresh those items when necessary. B. The uniforms that the Department issues shall be easily distinguished from that of a sworn Homestead police officer so as not to confuse the public or create a safety issue for the unarmed and non-sworn CSAs. V. CSA VEHICLES and USE: A. CSA vehicles will be clearly distinguishable from police vehicles. The CSA vehicles will be equipped with amber lights and stenciled with the words “Community Service Aide”. B. CSAs will operate their vehicles per departmental policy and State law. C. The CSA will inspect their vehicle each day at the start of their shift and prior to leaving the station to ensure the vehicles are not damaged, are properly equipped and all systems are operating normally. Any damage to the vehicle or equipment, missing equipment, malfunctioning equipment or issues with the vehicle’s operating systems shall be immediately reported to the CSA supervisor or the on-duty supervisor if the CSA supervisor is off-duty. D. During the training phase, operational necessity may dictate that a CSA that is being trained by a police FTO may have to drive the FTO’s assigned police vehicle. Under these circumstances the CSA unit being trained may drive the marked police vehicle under the direct supervision of the FTO but may not operate the police vehicle in emergency mode and will only respond to CSA authorized calls. VI. EVALUATIONS AND DISIPLINE OF CSAs A. All CSAs must maintain a satisfactory level of job performance and will be held accountable for sub-standard performance, dereliction of duty, incompetence, and misconduct. B. CSAs are subject to the same complaint, counseling and disciplinary actions as any non- sworn employees of the department.