About CSO

CSO (Community Service Organization) was created as an organization of students to act as a liaison between UCSB students and the Police Department. Over the last 30 years the organization has developed into a professional unit of the Police Department, maintaining the liaison function, as well as providing safety and security for students, staff and faculty. CSOs patrol the campus 365 days a year, reporting crimes in progress, assisting in emergency situations, and detecting safety hazards.

CSOs also provide personal safety escorts on campus and in Isla Vista. CSOs fulfill special security needs for residence halls and for campus special events. In addition to being a unique student organization, virtually all of the programs provided by the CSO are not provided by any other department or agency on campus or in the surrounding community.

CSO Officer Objectives

These are a few objectives that CSOs maintain during their specific shifts.

• To provide a safe learning and living environment for UCSB.
• To encourage safety consciousness within the campus community.
• To provide a positive link between the students and UCPD.
• To establish an open line of communication on a peer group level.
• To encourage bicycle safety and awareness.

CSO & The Police

As students, CSOs are employed by the UCPD and work with the Police Department to serve the community. Daily bicycle patrols allow CSOs to be visible to the campus community when situations arise where people need assistance- whether it be a lock-cut, calling Rescue to respond to an accident or calling for an officer to investigate suspicious circumstances. Frequently operating at a peer level, CSOs are often in a position to keep a situation from escalating into a potentially unmanageable incident. For further information, comments, concerns, or questions email: cso@police.ucsb.edu

CSO Safety Escorts

The CSO Safety Escort Program is a free service provided to all students, faculty and community members during the evening and early morning hours. The safety escort service is based on the "buddy" system and the objective is to provide a safer mode of transportation through campus and Isla Vista. This is accomplished by sending Community Service Officers to walk or bike with you to your destination.

CSOs have another level of protection in addition to the "buddy" system. CSOs are equipped with digital radios which allow them to be in constant contact with the Police Dispatch and Police Officers. CSOs are in no way considered bodyguards in a physical sense, yet they are responsible and trained to contact an officer when needed.

Safety Escorts are available for anyone 24/7, 365 days a year, and they are encouraged if you are walking or biking alone.

Once a safety escort is requested, the dispatcher will ask for your name, location, a room number if applicable, whether you are walking or riding a bike, and your specific destination.

The CSO Safety Escort Program is only one of the many services that the Community Service Organization provides, but it might possibly be the most important.

The CSO Safety Escort Service can be used by simply calling the Police Dispatch through the Safety Escort Phone Line at 805-893-2000.

Safety Escorts can also be requested through the Blue Emergency Phones located all over campus.

Note on round trips: After escorting you to your location, CSO's will return to their patrol duties, they will not wait outside or inside for you. You must call for an additional CSO safety escort upon return.