Reserve Community Service Officer

POSITION TITLE: Reserve Community Service Officer (Volunteer)
REQUISITION #: req8419
DEPARTMENT: Police Patrol
LOCATION: POLICE BUILDING
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Volunteer
SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 5/25/2026.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check & Motor Vehicle Report required. Drug test required within four calendar days (96 hours) of offer. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)

While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.

At the City, we are focused on finding the strongest candidate for the role, and we recognize that excellence can come from a wide variety of experiences and paths. When reviewing applications, we consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and lived experiences that align with the minimum qualifications. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to view your background broadly and highlight the skills and experiences that best prepare you for the role.

SUMMARY: The Reserve Community Service Officer (CSO) Program serves the following purposes:

A. To allow individuals at least 20 years of age an opportunity to volunteer in the field of law enforcement and learn about law enforcement through training classes and firsthand experience.

B. To promote the concept of law enforcement in the community through citizen participation.

C. To provide training in a variety of law enforcement topics so that the members of the Reserve CSO Program may be of assistance to Fort Collins Police Services and the community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

A. All Reserve CSOs may be utilized for the following:

• Traffic control and direction on calls for service and at special events

• Completing non-emergent calls for service, such as lockout assists, found property, VIN checks, motorist assists, and animal complaints

• Assisting commissioned CSOs and sworn officers on patrol with tasks necessary to complete a motor vehicle crash investigation

• Answering phones or doing other administrative duties as needed, such as staffing the front desk, stocking forms, and basic fleet vehicle maintenance

• Participating in community engagement and crime prevention events

B. All Reserve CSOs may also be involved in special projects initiated at the request of members of the Fort Collins Police Services. Examples of special projects include alcohol compliance checks, vehicle appraisals, and assisting as role players in training scenarios. Project assignments are based on interest and time commitment requirements.

C. Reserve CSOs are afforded the privilege of doing ride-alongs with patrol officers, under certain requirements and restrictions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

1.) Must be at least 20 years of age.

2.) Must be a citizen of the United States by either birth or naturalization, or lawfully in the United States and legally authorized for employment within the United States.

3.) Must have vision and hearing sufficient to perform the essential job functions and meet all minimum physical, medical and mental standards for the position applied for with or without reasonable accommodations.

4.) Must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license or instructional permit.

5.) Must have the ability to speak, read and understand English.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Must have a high school diploma, GED, or be currently enrolled in a national or regional accredited organization recognized by the United States Department of Education with a minimum 2.0 GPA on a 4-point scale.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid Colorado driver's license or instructional permit.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a volunteer to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the volunteer is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The volunteer frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The volunteer is occasionally required to climb or balance and taste or smell. The volunteer must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a volunteer encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the volunteer is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The volunteer is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The volunteer is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; explosives; risk of radiation; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.

Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.

The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.

POST OFFER BACKGROUND CHECK & MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT REQUIRED. DRUG TEST REQUIRED WITHIN FOUR CALENDAR DAYS/96 HOURS OF OFFER. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.