Community Service Officers Set to Return

The Laurelhurst Community Club recently published this information in their recent Laurelhurst newsletter.

Community Service Officers Set to Return 

In 2004, the City Council eliminated virtually all of the funding for Community Service Officers (CSO).  

LCC believes this was a major mistake and has worked since then to restore funding. LCC was encouraged in 2016 when councilmembers cosponsored legislation to bring back CSOs; however, that proposal did not garner sufficient support to move forward at that time.  

Recently, Mayor Jenny Durkan and Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best announced the Community Service Officer program will be funded again. LCC wrote to commend them for relaunching this valuable program – an effective and efficient use of funds.  

The Laurelhurst neighborhood is gratified that the mayor identified this need as a priority and commends her leadership on reinstating CSOs. CSOs perform important services to assist the police and the community.  

For example, they handle juvenile runaway case management and provide assistance to abused and neglected children; check on the well being of the elderly and other vulnerable persons; provide crisis intervention services and assist people in finding emergency housing.  

District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold summarized the program this way: “CSOs are non-commissioned officers who are trained to work as liaison personnel with the community and the Police Department, and support community-oriented policing.  

CSOs will assist with mediating disputes, follow up on calls for non-emergency services, help residents navigate services, support programming for at-risk youth, and attend school and community-hosted events. Some of the work will involve assisting homeless persons and individuals struggling with substance abuse to access programs like diversion opportunities, housing, and behavioral health services.”

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