Ride alongs

[erik_26]

Do you like to give ride alongs? Or do you not care for it? Or doesn't matter either way?

Any crazy things happen while having a ride along with you?

[Samuelx]

Depends on who it is and why he/she is riding. I definitely don't like having rides every single day of the week (which has happened before).

[Yugo]

I just went to the LAPD in Van Nuys and asked them about ride alongs and they told me that only people that are in the process of becoming a PO can go for a ride along no one else is this true?

[Samuelx]

If that's what you were told, it's true for them.

[Yugo]

Ok so is it different for another station?

[Lrchops]

At my agency, most of the ride alongs are people invited by the officer. Other types of ride alongs that may be assigned to an office (usually low man) are criminal justice students doing ride alongs as a part of their class requirements, politicians, sheriff's volunteers, department civilian staff, and LE Chaplans.

[Yugo]

so. anyone here want to invite me?

[Tacit Blue]

As others have mentioned, Ride-alongs are usually reserved for Friends of LE, or for prospective applicants in the process of applying with an agency. They are very selective about who actually gets to ride with a Officer/ Deputy nowadays in a cruiser.

On the application don't pick busy days of the week/weekend, like Friday or Saturday. They'll most likely recommend another day regardless, since they'll have a big work load during those times. I know this as a applicant.

[ckim34]

As others have mentioned, Ride-alongs are usually reserved for Friends of LE, or for prospective applicants in the process of applying with an agency. They are very selective about who actually gets to ride with a Officer/ Deputy nowadays in a cruiser.

On the application don't pick busy days of the week/weekend, like Friday or Saturday. They'll most likely recommend another day regardless, since they'll have a big work load during those times. I know this as an applicant.

Make sure your grammar is correct on the application too

[Tacit Blue]

Make sure your grammar is correct on the application too

[yzErnie]

I had a ride-a-long once that started busting my balls and launching his anti agenda before we even got out of the gate. His ride-a-long lasted as long as it took me to make a simple u-turn back into the parking lot. I thanked him for his concern and told him to GTFO!!

Now, as a Watch Commander, I frequently ask folks who call to complain about my men and women if they would like to come out on a ride-a-long to see what LE is all about...if they can qualify. Some of the replies are pretty darned funny, "Uh, no way...click", "Well, I'd like to but I wouldn't qualify cause I'm on parole", "Heck no, it's to dangerous", "Are you f'in kidding me"...all humorous in their own way. Some folks have taken me up on the offer and gotten a different view of what happens in their community. Attitudes can be changed.

[SoCalDep]

I LOVE the little word box in jail! Image saved!

[PsychGuy274]

I'm in San Diego and all you have to do for a ride along is fill out an online form, the coordinator calls you to confirm and then you show up and go.

I've done two so far and I'm gonna set up another one soon.

They are FUN.

[ironcross]

I'm in San Diego and all you have to do for a ride along is fill out an online form, the coordinator calls you to confirm and then you show up and go.

I've done two so far and I'm gonna set up another one soon.

They are FUN.

That's with SDPD. As far as I know, SDPD is the ONLY one who is giving ride along's to people who is not going through the application process. SDSD, La Mesa PD, ETC will not give ride along's unless you're going through the hiring process.

Also SDPD's policy is that you either A) Live in the City of San Diego; or B) Work within the City of San Diego.

[TrailerparkTrash]

I'll be honest. When sitting in briefings, I don't know one cop that likes ride-a-longs. In fact, guys poke fun at the poor cop that has a ride-a-long assigned to him/her. (Ride a longs are not allowed in briefings for the majority of stations on my department, so the rider has no idea that the cops are trash talking the poor sole that has gotten stuck with one.) I'm just answering the question honestly because I'm sure the OP wants all opinions, good or bad.

My personal opinion is that ride-a-longs suck. It's nothing personal about the rider. The person is probably a nice person, but it's the fact of having someone basically sitting at our "desk" (patrol car) for 10 hrs a day observing everything the cop is doing.

Would you like a complete strainger (ride-a-long) watching your every move at your job? It gets old.