Community Service Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $20.45 Hourly
Location : La Crosse, WI
Job Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Job Number: 00773
Department/Division: Police Operations
Opening Date: 10/22/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
The City of La Crosse supports attaining a representative workforce and workplace equity.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER: Position to perform a variety of law enforcement support functions such as parking enforcement, directing traffic, handling minor assistance calls, preparing reports and various clerical tasks. Candidates shall have an Associate degree or be enrolled in a Criminal Justice program or a related field. Valid motor vehicle operator's license required. The position may require working various shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as determined.
PART-TIME positions work 20 hours per week. This limited term employment is for the duration of up to two years. Flexibility with schedule may be available based on a candidate's school schedule. This part-time position offers a limited benefit package to include deferred compensation, Roth IRA, voluntary dental and vision plan, pro-rated paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
FULL-TIME positions work 40 hours per week. This full-time position offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical insurance, voluntary dental and vision plan, Wisconsin Retirement Plan, deferred compensation, Roth IRA, life insurance, income continuation insurance, paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Starting wage for full and part-time positions is $20.45 per hour. Selected candidate is subject to background and post offer/pre-employment drug screen, physical, and physical capacity exam and must pass and maintain a fingerprint-based criminal history records check. The City welcomes applications at all times. To be considered, submit an employment application by visiting the City of La Crosse website and clicking on City Services, then clicking Career Opportunities or by visiting Applicants who submit a completed application and meet minimum qualifications may be invited to participate in an interview on July 28, 2026.
Purpose of Position
The purpose of this position is to perform a variety of non-sworn law enforcement support functions which are dependent on the bureau or shift assignment of the individual CSE. Assignments include, but are not limited to Front Desk/Records, Parking Enforcement, Property, Shift Assignments or Administrative Assignments as needed. Appointed by the Chief to specified duty hours and assigned to work under close supervision as determined by their duty assignment.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Incumbents typically perform police support duties which do not require arrest powers or search and seizure authority granted sworn police officers. The work is performed under close supervision, and requires sound judgment, effective communication and customer service skills.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this classification and are dependent on the CSE's specific duty assignment. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
1. Provide customer service to the public at the Department lobby window or on the street.
2. Enforces parking ordinances. Issues citations and arranges towing of violating vehicles. Responds to illegal parking, abandoned vehicle complaints, boot/tow of vehicles and night parking enforcement.
3. Directs traffic. Escorts oversized loads on city streets.
4. Assists sworn officers/supervisors as directed.
5. Assists at accident scenes.
6. Performs clerical duties, sorts and files documents, completes forms, writes reports and orders supplies.
7. Performs crossing guard duties when needed.
8. May receive citizen complaints.
9. Conducts follow-up calls to victims for additional information or case clearance.
10. Assist the Court Officer, other agencies as directed.
11. Participates in on-going training including in-service sessions.
12. CSE's assigned to the Property area will have other specified duties/responsibilities as directed by the Administrative Sergeant and Supervisor.
13. Works special events in the City including Oktoberfest, River fest and many other events throughout the year.
Additional Tasks and Responsibilities
While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this classification and may also be performed by other unit members.
1. Answers telephone calls.
2. Runs errands.
Minimum Training And Experience Required To Perform Essential Job Functions
1. Associate degree or enrolled in a Criminal Justice program or a related field. Prior experience dealing with the public preferred, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
2. Must possess a valid driver's license.
Physical and Mental Abilities Required To Perform Essential Job Functions
Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication
1. Ability to classify, compute and tabulate data and information, following a prescribed plan requiring the exercise of some judgment. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure and sort information. Ability to assemble, copy, record and transcribe data and information.
2. Ability to advise and provide interpretation to others how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
3. Ability to utilize a wide variety of descriptive data and information such as regulations, citations, stolen property reports, vehicle tow forms, damage reports, parking ordinances, traffic statutes, maps, directories, bond schedules, evidence/property forms, correspondence and general operating manuals.
4. Ability to communicate orally and in writing with complainants, department personnel, motorists, suspects, crime victims, attorneys and the general public.
5. Ability to follow specific instructions and respond to simple requests from others.
6. Must be able to demonstrate effective customer service skills.
Mathematical Ability
1. Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability
1. Ability to use functional reasoning in performing semi-routine functions involving standardized work with some choice of action.
2. Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties which may be subject to frequent change.
Physical Requirements
1. Ability to operate, maneuver and/or steer equipment and machinery requiring simple but continuous adjustments such as motor vehicle, camera, computer terminal, typewriter, telephone, calculator/adding machine and photocopier.
2. Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing movements requiring moderate skill, such as typing or directing traffic.
3. Ability to exert very moderate physical effort in sedentary to light work, typically involving some combination of walking, running, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, lifting, climbing, carrying, pushing and pulling.
4. Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, sounds and odors associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks. Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
5. Ability to sustain prolonged visual and audio concentration.
Environmental Adaptability
1. Ability to work under conditions which require exposure to environmental factors such as temperature variations and extremes, irate individuals, intimidation, violence and traffic hazards. This exposure may cause some discomfort and presents a risk of injury.
The City of La Crosse is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
To follow is a brief summary of the benefits the City of La Crosse offers to its employees. Benefits and benefit eligibility will vary by position. Detailed benefits information can be found on the City's website under Department>Human Resources>Employee Benefits.
1) Medical Benefit Plan - Offered to all full-time, non-represented or unionized employees. Coverage for eligible medical expenses and prescriptions. Note: Employees hired full-time on or after 1/1/14 are not eligible for retiree medical benefit plan coverage.
2) Pension (Wisconsin Retirement System-WRS) - Automatic enrollment for full-time positions. Eligibility for part-time positions varies by position and is determined by the number of hours and duration of the position. For eligible positions, contributions begin date of hire. Employer contributions are paid by the employer. Employees are required to pay 50% of the total WRS contribution rate for "general" employees. 2026 rate is 7.2% of pre-tax earnings.
3) Life Insurance - (follows WRS eligibility) Up to five times the employee's annual salary is available. Spouse/dependent coverage options also available.
4) Income Continuation Insurance - (follows WRS enrollment) A short or long term disability insurance. Various options available for waiting periods.
5) Section #125 Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a flexible spending account to defer money from your paycheck pre-tax in a dependent care or medical account.
6) Vision Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee.
7) Dental Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee. Employees can choose between two different dental plans.
8) 457 Deferred Compensation Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for pre-tax and Roth payroll deductions to be placed in a retirement investment account.
9) Roth IRA - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for payroll deductions to be placed in a Roth IRA.
10) Paid Leave Time - Vacation, sick leave, personal business leave, family care leave, and holidays. Actual leave accrual determined by employee handbook or union contracts.
11) Accident Insurance - pays a cash benefit when you or your covered family members suffer injuries sustained in an accident. The enrollment period for new hires is within the first 30 days of hire. The effective date is when the completed, timely form is received by the employer.