Apparently not. The city is hiring some downtown security guards.....
From next week's council agenda....
"Approve the Authorization to Hire Six Community Service Officers, in the Amount of Approximately $508,000.00 Annually"
Background:
The downtown area is a thriving business area that brings thousands of Peoria citizens and visitors to the area each day. The Police Department has identified the need to have a larger staffing presence in the area to keep it safe and welcoming. Events in the area typically bring thousands of individuals downtown. Community Service Officers (CSO's) provide the department with a unique way to serve our citizens and visitors. Community Service Officers would be unarmed but still have a focus on public safety as well as customer service. Community Service Officers would be a civilian position falling under the AFSCME bargaining unit. CSO's would be provided with numerous law enforcement related training courses, but they would not be sworn personnel and would not have law enforcement powers. CSO responsibilities in the downtown area would be the following: respond to and make reports of a minor nature, assist the
public with information and provide a security presence, monitor parking decks, initiate police reports when appropriate, assist with traffic control, monitor events at the Civic Center and River Front, respond to parking issues, and attend community events. CSO's can also be assigned other responsibilities as needed or requested.
