Ride Alongs

[dc francis]

Does your Department do them?

What are your feelings about them?

What protection do you give the Civilian?

Matthew

[Drunkcop]

Does your Department do them?

What are your feelings about them?

What protection do you give the Civilian?

Matthew

1. Yes, we do

2. Fine if I know the person. And if they act up we take a quick trip back to the station to drop them off.

3. A quick lesson on cover: "Get the hell on the floorboard!"

[greeny]

I have done two (both w/ St. Paul PD) The officers were nice and seemed cool with having me along. And I went EVERYWHERE they went, and im sure if need be they would have protected me the same way they protect any innocent civilian.

[ARcop]

Yes, we do them.
As a Reserve Officer I get to get into the **** the FT members get into. Doing ride-a-longs as a civi was fun. DON'T EVER LEAVE THE CAR!!!
Protection?? HAHAHAHAHA They had us sign a waiver stating the PD was not responsible for anything that happened to you if you rode. No bullet proof vests, OC or carrying a gun either.

[TPD Cadet]

We do ride-alongs here, Ive been on about 40.

Rules...
-No guns or any weapons (Duh!)
-We can get out on all calls, unless we don't want to, or unless the officer says no.
-We just got radios, so after I pass the radio compentency test I will beable to cary/use a radio while going on a ride-along.
-We are allowed to wear bulletproof vests, but PD does not supply.
-And the officers make us do alot of paperwork.

But that is from the point of view from a cadet/explorer, I have never done a ride-along as a civi.

[Matto]

Yes, we do them.
As a Reserve Officer I get to get into the **** the FT members get into. Doing ride-a-longs as a civi was fun. DON'T EVER LEAVE THE CAR!!!
Protection?? HAHAHAHAHA They had us sign a waiver stating the PD was not responsible for anything that happened to you if you rode. No bullet proof vests, OC or carrying a gun either.

Where about's in Arkansas you at? If you want you can PM me.

[Da Po-po]

My department allows ride-alongs, but only after a quick background check and a liability waiver is completed. The rider can opt for body armor if they want, but I can't recall anyone asking for it. No weapons are authorized except for sworn LEO's. The rider is required to stay in the vehicle for any call that is of a dangerous nature (fights, domestics, alarms, etc.). If an officer must go to a really dangerous call (shots fired, pursuits, barracaded person) the rider gets dropped at a safe location and the officer calls for someone to come get them. I typically don't mind riders except for the really annoying ones that think they are the police or think the car belongs to them and likes to screw with the car stereo, dig through the glove compartment, stuff like that. That is when we just call up the Sarge and "remind" him of that deposition, special detail, or whatever so we can get them out of the car.

[Spee-Dee]

My department allows ride-alongs, but only after a quick background check and a liability waiver is completed. The rider can opt for body armor if they want, but I can't recall anyone asking for it. No weapons are authorized except for sworn LEO's. The rider is required to stay in the vehicle for any call that is of a dangerous nature (fights, domestics, alarms, etc.). If an officer must go to a really dangerous call (shots fired, pursuits, barracaded person) the rider gets dropped at a safe location and the officer calls for someone to come get them. I typically don't mind riders except for the really annoying ones that think they are the police or think the car belongs to them and likes to screw with the car stereo, dig through the glove compartment, stuff like that. That is when we just call up the Sarge and "remind" him of that deposition, special detail, or whatever so we can get them out of the car.

Why do people go through the glove box of other people's cars anyways? It's so bloody rude and ****es me off. I now have to keep mine locked to keep people out.

Do you guys keep anything interesting in it?

[greeny]

It sounds like most places either have the rider stay in the car, or get dropped off if there is something really dangerous.

For me, 100% civilian, I went EVERYWHERE they did. This includes officer in need of backup, armed robbery in progress, takedown of two armed suspects who had just committed a violent crime, not to mention serving a warrant to a assault with a deadly weapon suspect. It was VERY intense at times.

[Drunkcop]

It sounds like most places either have the rider stay in the car, or get dropped off if there is something really dangerous.

For me, 100% civilian, I went EVERYWHERE they did. This includes officer in need of backup, armed robbery in progress, takedown of two armed suspects who had just committed a violent crime, not to mention serving a warrant to a assault with a deadly weapon suspect. It was VERY intense at times.

I was being a bit flippant in my first reply.

I have no problems with ride-alongs as long as they act intelligent. They are allowed to get out of the car unless the scene is very dangerous. On my DUI stops, they can stand as close as they want as long as they stay out of camera range. I also like to know if they know how to use a shotgun in an emergency

[Stan Switek]

Most of the officers on my department dislike having ride-alongs. They are there to work, not entertain. Im shocked at the way some of these people are dressed when they show up. Everything from ninja gear to levis with holes in the knees. In my book, that gets you sent home before you even get near the car. The last guy I sent home showed up wearing a huge coyboy hat. His first question to the officer was to ask for a key to the shotgun. Sent him home before he even made it in the car.

[concon02]

I was being a bit flippant in my first reply.

I have no problems with ride-alongs as long as they act intelligent. They are allowed to get out of the car unless the scene is very dangerous. On my DUI stops, they can stand as close as they want as long as they stay out of camera range. I also like to know if they know how to use a shotgun in an emergency

I want to ride with you! In my 2 ride alongs I had to sit in the car at every little stop.

[Spee-Dee]

Most of the officers on my department dislike having ride-alongs. They are there to work, not entertain. Im shocked at the way some of these people are dressed when they show up. Everything from ninja gear to levis with holes in the knees. In my book, that gets you sent home before you even get near the car. The last guy I sent home showed up wearing a huge coyboy hat. His first question to the officer was to ask for a key to the shotgun. Sent him home before he even made it in the car.

Ninja gear?

What are you supposed to wear when you go on ride-alongs anyways? Some say to dress up, but when you're going to be sitting in a car for long periods of time and you're a girl, your comfortable dressy clothes are not all that numerous. And I'm pretty sure that having a girl sitting beside you constantly trying to make sure her *** isn't falling out of her low rise pants (I hate 'em, but all dress pants are low rise these days.) could be seen as a driving distraction to the police officer.

The last guy I sent home showed up wearing a huge coyboy hat. His first question to the officer was to ask for a key to the shotgun. Sent him home before he even made it in the car.

That just screams stupid. I am reminded of the time at the security gate at the Kelowna airport when my mom asked the security lady "So, how would someone get a gun on the plane?" After she was told to not ask that again, she asked it again. I won't even get into the fun we had when she got out of the truck at the US border after she was told to not get out of the truck.

So what were these people's reactions to being sent home based on their form of dress and stupid questions?

[Drunkcop]

I want to ride with you! In my 2 ride alongs I had to sit in the car at every little stop.

You're not stupid, are you?

[formercop]

When I used to take ride alongs, they'd show up pretty decently dressed in khakis or something along those lines (that included females).

Ride alongs never bugged me, but the ones who thought they should help with everything drove me bonkers.