My first real round with working with law enforcement. I have all the details about the job. What I will be doing, with whom and when. Lower level calls that don't require an officer (nuisance, ordinance violations, animal calls and arrest tranpsorts to name a few) will be my bread and butter. The city I am starting with had the requirement that I be within a year of completing POST, so that leads me to believe that I have a real chance of being LE after I complete school.  I have been doing security for the last 12 years so being the low man on the totem pole will be a refreshing experience.

Other than learning to shoot dogs, what will help me put my best foot forward in regards to the department?

What is a CSO?

Community Service Officer??

I’ve only ever seen them work parades and block party type events.

Congrats, man. My grandfather was a reserve sheriff's deputy for many years, and I know it was one of the most fulfilling things he ever did.

This is correct. A CSO does the parking ordinances, noise ordinances park patrols and low level citations that do not rise to the need of a patrol officer. Sorry about the delayed response, I got wrapped up in homework and the offensive meme thread in GD.