The Austin Community Service Officer (CSO) program is a vital part of the department.  The CSOs patrol the city in a fully marked police vehicle and respond to assist citizens, and enforce minor violations of city ordnances and state laws. 

The CSOs are primarily responsible for responding to and handling calls related to animal complaints, bicycle thefts, parking complaints and some minor juvenile status offenses.  The CSO’S are also responsible for the care and maintenance of the city’s animal shelter and the animals being housed there. 

The CSO program is staffed by two full-time and one part-time CSO.  CSOs Ernesto Cantu and Jim Dugan are full time, while CSO George Percival is part-time.  CSO Cantu has been with the department since 1999 and works primarily from 4:00pm to 12:00am on a rotating schedule.  CSO Dugan has been with the department since 2001 and works primarily 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday-Friday.  CSO Percival has been with the department since 2002 and generally fills in when the other CSOs are on their days off.

The CSO unit received a ne 2010 4x4 Ford F-150 truck, which replace their old compact pickup truck.  The new truck meets the growing needs of the CSO program and doubles as a patrol vehicle for sworn police officers during winter storms. 

CSO Ernesto Cantu