Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 2.16 Community Service Officers

2.16.010 - Creation of position of community service officer—Duties.¶

Within the police department of the city is created the position of "community service officer." It shall be the duty of any person occupying such position to:

Enforce all the provisions of any law enacted by the council;

Enforce all the provisions of state laws declared to be misdemeanors or infractions, including all state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the city which may be assigned to such officer by the chief of police; and

Perform such other duties or functions which may be assigned or delegated to such officer by the chief of police.

(Prior code § 3-10.01)

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2.16.020 - Community service officers deemed to be police officers—Immunities.¶

Any person occupying the position of community service officer shall be deemed to be a public officer or employee, as the term "public officer or employee" is used in Section 836.5 of the Penal Code of the state. There shall be no civil liability on the part of, and no cause or action shall arise against, any such community service officer acting pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and within the scope of his or her authority, for false arrests or false imprisonment arising out of any arrest which is lawful or which the community service officer, at the time of the arrest, had reasonable cause to believe was lawful. No such officer shall be deemed an aggressor or lose his or her right to self-defense by the use of reasonable force to effect the arrest, prevent escape, or overcome resistance.

(Prior code § 3-10.02)

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2.16.030 - Community service officers—Powers of arrest.¶

Any community service officer may arrest a person without a warrant whenever such officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a misdemeanor or an infraction in such officer's presence which is a violation of state laws, this code, or any uncodified ordinance of the city.

(Prior code § 3-10.03)

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2.16.040 - Effect on arrests by peace officers or private persons.¶

The provisions of Sections 2.16.010 through 2.16.030 of this chapter shall have no effect on the procedures required to be utilized by a peace officer, as the term "peace officer" is used in Sections 830 through 830.35 of the Penal Code of the state, in making arrests for the commission of any public offense, nor shall the provisions of this chapter apply to arrests made by private persons for the commission of any public offense.

(Prior code § 3-10.04)

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