The Melbourne Police Department Community Service Officers (CSO’s)
are an integral part of our Department, assisting sworn officers with multiple tasks that result in more efficient police service to the community. 

Prior to 1990, the Department had only one CSO who answered phone calls and handled misdemeanor complaints when there were no suspect or investigative leads.  The Front Desk was manned only during the daytime. 
 

Since then, the program has continually grown, and we now have a CSO Supervisor overseeing the CSO unit.  The Front Desk is manned up to 18 hours daily.  Although our CSO’s  don’t have arrest powers, they are able to do many things a sworn officer can do.  A CSO does not respond to in-progress calls, but is able to assist sworn personnel after a scene has been secured and rendered safe. 

From processing crime scenes, taking criminal complaints, performing follow-up investigations, and working traffic accidents, to directing traffic, our CSO’s are always ready to assist our sworn officers as well as the public. 

Through the years, the CSO’s have become increasingly more important to the Department and its service to the community.