Ride A Long

[HopefulOfficer]

Hello,

How can one go about riding a long with a cop? My local police department has a citizen's program that is 10 weeks, but I will be gone in 5 weeks. Do police stations hold individual ride a longs, or are they not that easy?

Sorry if I sound ignorant.

Nick

[Safety Steve]

Most departments have their own rules for doing ride alongs. You will just have to contact an agency and ask. My department won't allow ride alongs unless you have submitted an application.



Be Safe.

[marinepilot]

Same with my agency, you have to have a sponsor and then fill out a form so they can do a brief background check on you, and also fill out and sign a liability waiver. Once all is completed, if you're approved, you can ride up to 4 times in that year with your sponsoring officer.

The best way would be what Safety Steve said above, call the agency you're interested in doing a ride along with and ask them. It is different than the 10 week citizens program you mentioned above.

[retdetsgt]

With mine, you can just contact a precinct and ask. It's voluntary on the part of the officer to take you, but there is generally someone who doesn't mind the company. It's not a big deal and pretty easy.

[Safety Steve]

With mine, you can just contact a precinct and ask. It's voluntary on the part of the officer to take you, but there is generally someone who doesn't mind the company. It's not a big deal and pretty easy.

And IMO, that's how it should be. I have friends that would like to ride along just to see what I do, but can't due to our department policy. I wouldn't mind someone riding with me once or twice a month.


Be Safe.

[retdetsgt]

I don't understand why agencies would be so uptight about it. It's excellent PR, the ride along has to sign a waiver so there is no real liability. Even on graveyard, I used to take a citizen along once in a while, met some nice people that way. If they were a pain, I could take them back anytime I wanted to.

[HopefulOfficer]

So it is mostly at the discretion of the precinct? Okay, I will have to call near by stations. I would love to ride along with someone. Not only does that give me one on one time where I can ask questions and get pointers, but I can get a little bit of a feel for it too.