Posted: 3/12/2011 9:35:49 PM EDT
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This may vary from dept. to dept.; what rules/rights/privileges/responsibilities, do those going on a ride-along have?
Do these apply to all people going on patrol with the LEO, including chaplains? Thanks, MF |
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For the most part the ride along is there only as an observer. This usually includes sworn LEO from another agency doing a ride along (which are sometime allowed to armed, sometimes not - depends on agency policy). The rules are usually spelled out by the shift supervisor prior to starting the ride along. Some agencies give reserve LEO powers to chaplains to allow them to carry, some don't - again depends on the agency.
My agency generally doesn't allow the public on a ride-along unless they are in the hiring process or are with the media. I know that (as of a year or so ago) Douglas County no longer allows the public to go on a ride along, except for their Explorer program. |
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Quoted:
For the most part the ride along is there only as an observer. This usually includes sworn LEO from another agency doing a ride along (which are sometime allowed to armed, sometimes not - depends on agency policy). The rules are usually spelled out by the shift supervisor prior to starting the ride along. Some agencies give reserve LEO powers to chaplains to allow them to carry, some don't - again depends on the agency. My agency generally doesn't allow the public on a ride-along unless they are in the hiring process or are with the media. I know that (as of a year or so ago) Douglas County no longer allows the public to go on a ride along, except for their Explorer program. Are you an officer in Douglas? Thanks, MF |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
For the most part the ride along is there only as an observer. This usually includes sworn LEO from another agency doing a ride along (which are sometime allowed to armed, sometimes not - depends on agency policy). The rules are usually spelled out by the shift supervisor prior to starting the ride along. Some agencies give reserve LEO powers to chaplains to allow them to carry, some don't - again depends on the agency. My agency generally doesn't allow the public on a ride-along unless they are in the hiring process or are with the media. I know that (as of a year or so ago) Douglas County no longer allows the public to go on a ride along, except for their Explorer program. Are you an officer in Douglas? Thanks, MF Nope, but I'm sending you a PM. |
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By my Dept. policy, the only thing ride alongs aren't allowed to do is be involved in a vehicle pursuit and drive the cars. Lately, there have been some standing orders that vary about whether or not we're allowing ride alongs or not. I usually give my ride alongs "the talk" and let them know that I will let them be a part of anything they want, as long as both of us feel safe doing it. If I'm comfortable but they aren't, I don't mind if they sit in the car. |
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Quoted:
By my Dept. policy, the only thing ride alongs aren't allowed to do is be involved in a vehicle pursuit and drive the cars. Lately, there have been some standing orders that vary about whether or not we're allowing ride alongs or not. I usually give my ride alongs "the talk" and let them know that I will let them be a part of anything they want, as long as both of us feel safe doing it. If I'm comfortable but they aren't, I don't mind if they sit in the car. That seems to be the going trend at Metro. Before the ride along, you must sign a waiver saying that you understand that you do not have LEO powers. If you go to a call and the person inside says they don't want you in their house, you can't go in. That is really the only thing written in policy. As far as most of the other things, it is something that is usually dictated by the individual officer or their sergeant. These are things like approaching the vehicle on a traffic stop (usually a no, since it's a HUGE safety risk), getting out on hot calls, etc. Many will advise you not to speak with suspects either, and defer any questions directly asked to you back to the officer. As for rules regarding getting a ride along, this varies from department to department, but the general concensus right now (at Metro) is if you are testing, an officer from another agency, a friend/family member of an officer, or a citizen's police academy graduation. This is sometimes bent for people who are in the military and interested or other things like that. In the end, the person approving will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis, since at Metro, there is no set in stone policy for who is allowed on a ride along. |
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Is the ride-alongee considered the officer's backup in any sort of situation? I gather no, from some replies.
Here is the origin of my OP: I by no means know the details of this; I knew a chaplain that went on ride-alongs. From my understanding there was a traffic stop, the driver was upset over it, as many of us would possibly be. So the chaplain reacted by grabbing the officer's shotgun from the patrol car, racked it and stood at the passenger side of the pulled over car, aiming at the driver. This just made me feel  ...
Thoughts? MF |
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Quoted:
Is the ride-alongee considered the officer's backup in any sort of situation? I gather no, from some replies. Here is the origin of my OP: I by no means know the details of this; I knew a chaplain that went on ride-alongs. From my understanding there was a traffic stop, the driver was upset over it, as many of us would possibly be. So the chaplain reacted by grabbing the officer's shotgun from the patrol car, racked it and stood at the passenger side of the pulled over car, aiming at the driver. This just made me feel ...
Thoughts? MF There are officers that will tell their ride alongs how to access the shotguns. In a normal, heated citizen situation, it is advisable not to get involved. If it becomes life and death or the officer gets in a true fight without any other officers present, they will welcome any help you can get. We recently had an officer seriously injured in a fight. They ended up getting the suspect into custody when a civilian walking down the road tackled and hand-cuffed the suspect. In that case the officer couldn't radio for help because his radio broke right at the beginning of the fight, so it also took citizens calling 911 to get him help. |
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Quoted: Is the ride-alongee considered the officer's backup in any sort of situation? I gather no, from some replies. Here is the origin of my OP: I by no means know the details of this; I knew a chaplain that went on ride-alongs. From my understanding there was a traffic stop, the driver was upset over it, as many of us would possibly be. So the chaplain reacted by grabbing the officer's shotgun from the patrol car, racked it and stood at the passenger side of the pulled over car, aiming at the driver. This just made me feel ...Thoughts? MF part of the talk I give them is that they should try not to get directly involved in a violent situation, unless it's clear that I'm getting my ass kicked and am losing the fight. I tell them which code to use on the radio to get me help ASAP. As far as the shotgun goes, I used to tell people how to get it out, but I've since stopped doing that most of the time. I have told one or two people where on my body by backup gun is, in case they need to get it. Those are mostly my Explorers when they ride with me, or prior military/LEO's. We had an officer get involved in a foot pursuit and the dumbass citizen got in the patrol car and wrecked it. I now make that part of my "briefing" to make sure that it doesn't happen. I usually volunteer to take the ride along out since I learned so much from them when I was an Explorer. |