The ISO defines Civic Virtue more than just by the frequency of participation by community members in public matters, but also how much the values of said members orient towards the building of a greater common good. Orderliness in mindset, friendliness in speech, charitability in behavior, and cleanliness in the land, all of this together is Civic Virtue. This also builds Social Cohesion, fostering greater capacity for the community to work together. The conditions of modern life often deteriorates these two constantly; to maintain them is, in and of itself, a constant effort.

The Community Liaison Officer is responsible for being a full-time professional that builds up and maintains Community Virtue and Social Cohesion within a community. The way this is done will fundamentally vary depending on the community but several common methods are utilized. Firstly, the attending of public events and open meetings in local government and other civil society organizations within the area. Secondly, there is the organizing of the community towards collective actions such as the creation and maintenance of Watch Groups that help promote public safety or general forms of community volunteering. Finally, the Community Liaison Officer will seek to recruit those who are open to greater community involvement as assistants to his work. In all these methods, the Community Liaison Officer educates the community towards values that point towards the common good to maintain Civic Virtue and Social Cohesion.

The Community Liaison Officer is, usually, employed by a government authority. They are the eyes and ears of Civil Authority within the communities they govern. They enhance the state' capacity to operate through various means: this includes assisting law enforcement with the reporting of criminal behavior, the assisting of regulatory entities in identifying code violations, and the assistance of general public authority in maintaining community integrity. The nature of this work is highly variable and flexible. The work of the Community Liaison Officer is a general purpose benefit for the state and community they serve.