My ride along...

[BlakeStone]

I got to go on my ride along last night (5:00pm - 1:45am) and it was a real eye-opener. I can't even begin to describe the boatload of information that I got out of it. The officer I rode with (a lady, and a beautiful one at that :p ) was great and answered the billion questions that I had about almost every aspect of policing that I could think of. I heard stories of particular incidents that moved me more so than I thought they would, and I got a feeling of the family-like bond that police officers share. I had pictured a more romantic idea of policing, and was given a much needed slap in the face. I am so stunned about the reality versus expectation that I don't know if I can currently say with 100% certainty that I am prepared to make the commitment to this career. However, I do believe that it would benefit me more to participate in future ride alongs and complete my post-secondary education before making any decisions. Oh, and at one point while helping the officer remove a drunk off of the street, I was referred to as "my partner"! That was cool.

[mcsap]

Glad you liked the ride. I remember my first ride as a 16 yr old

PS. No way on God's green earth would I allow a rider help me move a drunk unless it was a life and death situation. Too much liability on my part to do so. Drunks can be VERY unpredictable and can suddenly turn violent.

[tenfour]

Glad you liked the ride. I remember my first ride as a 16 yr old

PS. No way on God's green earth would I allow a rider help me move a drunk unless it was a life and death situation. Too much liability on my part to do so. Drunks can be VERY unpredictable and can suddenly turn violent.

True that! I was riding with a buddy and we got a guy for DUI. He was hesitant to get in the back of the squad, so he stood there and looked around while my buddy told him to take a seat. I got in a stance to get the hell out of the way if he decided to book it!

Remember when you go on future ride-alongs to stay out of the way. Anytime we go in a house or anything I'm always standing out of the way incase sh$# hits the fan.

[Explorer15]

Wow the officers let you get out on calls the officers in department don't let you get out at all during a call. We had a domestic and I had to sit in the car when he went into the house.

[TheQuietCorner]

One thing I've found about the Canadians, liability isn't such a big deal for them. I don't know if that's the case with the police too, but it's what I learned for EMS.

I was at an international EMS conference, and met some nice medics from BC. We were talking about some patients, and a variety of ways of dealing with them. (hint hint) My buddy said something to the effect of "that would be a sure shot lawsuit" and we were kinda talking about ways we could get sued and what we could get sued for in these situations. The Canadians had to ask us what we were talking about. They didn't understand why we could get sued in those situations. They told us the judges in Canada are protective of emergency workers, and if you bring what the judge thinks is a frivolous (spelling?) lawsuit to court, they'll throw it out and charge you the court fee's for it. It's judges discretion too.

That was a major suprise for me, because I was taught through all of my training and by my supervisors to constantly be thinking liability. For them it was a distant thought and they were taught, basically, if you don't do something royally stupid and opposite of what you were taught, you're generally going to be covered.

I'd be interested to here from BlakeStone about this also.

[AndrewTx]

QuietCorner,

Not that this will come as any surprise, but liability and legal reminders are constantly reinforced in my current EMT-B course as well. Many of the factors involved in liability protection happen to fall in line with quality patient care regardless, so I don't believe it's too overly stressed, but I'll admit it was a bit of an eye-opener. In any case, I'd imagine that if Canadian EMS workers have more extensive protection, police officers do as well. An interesting point to investigate.

[tenfour]

Wow the officers let you get out on calls the officers in department don't let you get out at all during a call. We had a domestic and I had to sit in the car when he went into the house.

I can get out on basically all of the calls. I've been in houses for domestics many times. Go on lots of medicals, noise complaints, warrants...I've been in alot of houses and apartments, stores, restaurants basically everything, looked for a knife tossed from a stabbing, searched for evidence on a burglary. I just help out with whatever they want and try and stay out of the way.

[BlakeStone]

The drunk was an old man with arthritis. It went like this...

We are cruising uphill a steep road and spot a cab pulled to the right side of the road. The passenger gets out from the back and walks towards the snowbank rather slowly. The passenger trips and collapses on the ice; cabbie stays in cab. (I later found out how much my constable HATES cab drivers... ) We pull over, she gets out, I stay in. When she gets to the passenger, the cabbie gets out too, checks on the passenger and then leaves. Officer asks if he'de like for her to call EMS. He declines. I get out and maintain my distance while this old guy insists that he's ok and just needs a minute (at this point, we can smell booze and he's obviously impaired). Finally, after the officer comments on the fact that it's freezing outside, he agrees to let us help him up. He then discovers that he had been talking to a police officer all along... He thanks us profusely, insists that he can walk to his apartment and we let him go. On the way to his door, we notice that he is bleeding above his right eye. She asks if he'd like her to look at it, he insists he is fine and that he'll take care of it inside. We let him go after he finishes the conversation "I always have a few drinks after work." and stumbles inside. We waited for him to get inside and then left.

[mcsap]

Age doesn't mean he can't take a whack at you , and he didn't get arrested for Public Drunkenness ?? I take drunks home all of the time AFTER I ARREST THEM.

I can't claim to know how the courts take liability in Canada but when you ride with me , I will NOT expose you to unnessecary liability. That is because I alone am responsible for your sdafety and wellbeing. Why should I take a chance with one of the most dangerous people to deal with , a drunk?

[BlakeStone]

I think she took it easy because he was at his home, just had a little accident on the sidewalk.

[canuckofapeach]

I have no idea what department you rode with, however my city's PD stance on liability and safety of the passenger - whether it be a civilian or cop - is taken seriously. Even visiting cops from other PD's or countries, whether they be a constable or patrol officer or even a supervisor, have to sign a waiver and if any sh*t goes down - regardless of severity - they are NOT to get involved. Whether one wears "tin" or not, there are no exceptions to this.
It is also a rarity to ride with a cop of non-supervisory status for a whole shift.

[bobcoop06]

Age doesn't mean he can't take a whack at you , and he didn't get arrested for Public Drunkenness ?? I take drunks home all of the time AFTER I ARREST THEM.

I can't claim to know how the courts take liability in Canada but when you ride with me , I will NOT expose you to unnessecary liability. That is because I alone am responsible for your sdafety and wellbeing. Why should I take a chance with one of the most dangerous people to deal with , a drunk?

Well at least he took a cab home instead of trying to drive. I would be leniant too considering he was at home and took the more responsible route of calling a cab.

[mcsap]

I have arrested people in front of their homes for DUI and Public Drunk but in such a circumstance of being in front of the guys house AND if he wasn't being an idiot, I probably would have just slid him inside. Still, I have little sympathy for people who get so drunk that they can't even get from their cab to their front door.

[BlakeStone]

By far, here were some of the coolest things of the night...

1. Watching as motorists drive perfectly when you pass them
2. Getting looks from people who think you're some sort of detective (I was wearing a white shirt and tie, dress pants and shoes, and a black jacket)
3. Driving FAST
4. Instant messaging between cruisers on the laptops about what song is playing on the radio
5. Getting treated extra nice when stopping for coffee

And the funny thing is, I was told that for a Thursday, it was incredibly quiet and not to base my decision on last night! Guess I'll probably ride again!

[P01IC3M4N]

my first ride-along, the deputy fell asleep for an hour.

my second ride-along with a different deputy took me to the sheriff's july 4th party. two officers who had been drinking left so we followed them. he called a trooper to come stop them and jack them up. they were all scared until the deputy walked up laughing.

when i started working, i took my cousin on his first ride-along. we got into a pursuit and got rammed.

i don't have a lot of luck with ride-alongs.