On Patrol

Eric M. Jukelevics Arizona Daily Wildcat Veronica Mendoza, sociology junior and head of the UA Police Department's Community Service Officer Program, patrols on her bike in front of the UAPD. Community Service Officers (CSO) are students who get a first-hand experience in law enforcement.

But if you slip up - look out.

A Community Service Officer program, offered by University of Arizona Police Department, allows students interested in law enforcement to experience life on the beat.

"We are the eyes and ears of campus," said Veronica Mendoza, the CSO head and sociology junior. "As soon as we see something suspicious, we call for back-up."

The 10 CSO's are often used in UAPD undercover operations.

Mendoza and another female officer recently went undercover at fraternity parties to look for underage drinking. Student officers also helped bust an alleged fake-ID operation two weeks ago at Maricopa Residence Hall.

But the job is not always so glamorous, she said.

Student officers also hold stake-outs atop buildings to monitor bike racks frequently targeted by thieves, Mendoza said. The areas near Coronado and Arizona-Sonora Residence Halls and Old Main are often on the student-officers' beats.

Although the students generally work alone and often late at night, they don't carry weapons because they aren't allowed to engage in physical contact, said UAPD Sgt. Michael Smith.

"If the student's carried weapons, it would be more of a liability," he said.

But Mendoza said she feels very safe while on duty.

"If I feel bad about the surroundings, I leave and call for back-up," she said. "We've had a self-defense class in case we're in a bad situation."

Students involved in the program are paid minimum wage to patrol campus on foot or on bicycle to watch for accidents and thefts. They also provide escorts for people late at night.

The program has been in existence for 10 years. Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University have similar student officer programs.

"Students in the program are usually interested in going into law enforcement or jobs related to the field," Smith said.

UAPD's CSO graduates have gone on to various jobs in law enforcement.

Three students have gone on to become UAPD officers, one found a job at the Colorado Springs Police Department and two have become dispatchers for UAPD, Smith said.

Any UA student can apply for the CSO program, Mendoza said. The potential officers endure an application process and an interview, she added.

"In the oral boards (interviews with UAPD officers) we are just trying to see what type of person they are," Mendoza said. "We want a person who will be able to sit back and watch and not get in confrontations."

UAPD Sgt. Vince Roberts, the program head, joins the current head CSO to pick the top five applicants.

The student officers go through one month of "field training," Mendoza said.

Field training is basically learning the campus's geography. Student officers are also shown the areas know for high bike theft and other crimes, she said.

Mendoza said visibility is key for the UAPD student officers.

"We just want to be out there and visible," Mendoza said. "If someone was planning on trying something, they might be less likely to do things if they see us."

Audrey DeAnda can be reached at Audrey.DeAnda@wildcat.arizona.edu.