By Joanna Putman
Police1
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — A California police department that has had civilian community service officers since 1980 has changed their titles and upped their numbers in the past year, KSBY reported.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department renamed its Field Service Technicians to Community Service Officers (CSOs) in 2023, according to the report. The officers patrol the downtown area, respond to low-level crimes and educate the public.
The department has added four more CSOs in the past year, making them more visible to the community as they patrol special events, according to the report. They use a warning system that can lead to citations if violations persist.
“People have felt easier to approach us because we’re very readily accessible to them,” CSO Samantha Corsaw told KSBY. “Whether it’s just from wanting to talk about the day and the weather to, ‘Hey, I noticed this problem, can you go find a solution for me?”