Ride along request denied?

[Tacit Blue]

I was in the process of doing a ride along with a small local agency Police Department in my area. Today i spoke with a Officer who was in charge of the ride along program;after much phone tag, i was finally able to reach him.

So we spoke on the phone and i told him i filled out the application after the New Years. And it seemed like everything was good to go. We started talking about what dates were appropriate to set up the ride along, i told him ideally next week would be great. He agreed also. However, when he asked me where else i applied and what my intentions were thats were things went sour. i told him that i applied with Sheriff's and he did a complete 180 degree turn telling me that i needed to be a applicant or a student to the ride along. I told him i was Criminal justice student, and it didn't seem to make a difference. He said he'd hang onto my application when they start hiring again( in this economy doubt it)

The strange thing is my friend did a ride along with them a couple of months back and they let him go for a ride along. No hassle or fuss.

I'm wondering if he just doesn't like Sheriff's? or i'm not considered a priority since i'm going for a different agency? i was also genuinely interested in this agency and i told him that i missed the deadline for the app.

Anyway it left me with a real sour taste in my mouth. I'll try elsewhere.

[Uhhlexxxis]

If that particular agency does a 180 on you, you may be in the right to look elsewhere. It can never hurt to have options. Finish up school and go from there. As the job market sits, LE is incredibly difficult to get into with all the other qualified candidates (lay offs, allied laterals, etc)

[Tacit Blue]

Yeah this particular agency only has like 115 Officers including Patrol and supervisors. And only one Station. If they want to remain exclusive and pretentious for whatever reason so be it. I think larger agencies have alot more to offer regardless, more employment and a easier time getting your foot in the door. At least the Sheriff's Department owns a fleet of Helicopters, they send the bill to the other regional departments in the area

[Gnome]

Screw 'em! If he's gonna get butthurt because you are doing the right thing by applying at multiple agencies, that's his problem. That shows me that this kid is seriously trying to get hired with a PD/SD.

Stay in school. Just remember that it is not necessary to have a degree in Criminal Jutice, to be an officer. The academy/job will teach you what you need to know. Public Admin., Education, or Poly Sci. are also good areas to get your degree in. All will also help you move up the ranks too.

It seems as if a lot of Depts are now movng towards requiring a degree to promote, as opposed to experience and time on. Education is invaluable, but so is real world experience.

[ckim34]

Yeah this particular agency only has like 115 Officers including Patrol and supervisors. And only one Station. If they want to remain exclusive and pretentious for whatever reason so be it. I think larger agencies have alot more to offer regardless, more employment and a easier time getting your foot in the door. At least SDSO owns a fleet of Helicopters, they send the bill to the other regional departments in the area

What ever the reason maybe for the Officer denying your request. Its best not to speak sour of another agency if you plan on being in LE. Keep in mind this is a public forum.

[ankyle62]

As the job market sits, LE is incredibly difficult to get into with all the other qualified candidates (lay offs, allied laterals, etc)

Difficult as in almost like winning the lottery. Very tough out there right now.

[Notorious]

What ever the reason maybe for the Officer denying your request. Its best not to speak sour of another agency if you plan on being in LE. Keep in mind this is a public forum.

+1

That was my immediate reaction upon reading his smart retort.

Not wise. Not very indicative of a mature personality that would make it to my department either.

[TrailerparkTrash]

... Its best not to speak sour of another agency if you plan on being in LE. Keep in mind this is a public forum.

I agree if one was to give out their name and personal info etc.... Just don't identify whom you are and one is pretty safe as far as internet forum chatter is concerned. Also, admitting to something illegal isn't a good idea either.

[Notorious]

In this context... yes, it is pretty safe. Whatever agency he applies to will pretty much never know this... and hopefully, he will not carry this 'tude when he is in the application process.

[yzErnie]

Yeah this particular agency only has like 115 Officers including Patrol and supervisors. And only one Station. If they want to remain exclusive and pretentious for whatever reason so be it.

You said you don't know why they disallowed the ride along yet you make a comment like this. Presumptive to say the least. Ride-a-longs are not a given at many agencies and to ***/u/me it was because of some aloof attitude of the department is without merit. I've disallowed ride-a-longs on my shift simply because the citizen was dressed inappropriately. Don't take it so personal and if it that important to you, seek out a ride-a-long elsewhere.

[ckim34]

115 sworn members is a decent size agency. Not all agencies have thousands of officers. You take away SD,LA,SF,SJ, and various sheriff agencies and most departments in the state are going to be relatively "small".

[Tacit Blue]

+1

That was my immediate reaction upon reading his smart retort.

Not wise. Not very indicative of a mature personality that would make it to my department either.

You're right i shouldn't have said that. I'm not entitled to have a ride along, i understand that. I'm sorry if i offended any current peace officers with my thread. It is just very difficult getting your foot in the door anywhere right now,and more and more agencies aren't hiring or making a effort to recruit. Iv'e stood in lines taking test where i overheard some people saying " If weren't for this economy i would be working at a great fortune 500 company, i have a degree and this is the only thing thats stable".

Some of the applicants only want job security. And job postings have been taken down in hours due to the overwhelming amount of applicants applying. For example SDPD wont be hiring until 2012 rumor has it. Since Prop D didn't pass for more funding towards public safety. That is how it looks from my perspective as a applicant trying to get my foot in the door. Its very rough out there. Alot of competition and economical issues present.

Like i've said i'll try elsewhere. Not a prob.

[Tacit Blue]

You said you don't know why they disallowed the ride along yet you make a comment like this. Presumptive to say the least. Ride-a-longs are not a given at any agency and to ***/u/me it was because of some aloof attitude of the department is without merit. I've disallowed ride-a-longs on my shift simply because the citizen was dressed inappropriately. Don't take it so personal and if it that important to you, seek out a ride-a-long elsewhere.

The reason is b/c i told him i applied to a Sheriff's dept. And he told me i would have to be applicant to their agency or a student to go on the ride along.

When i told him i was also a student. Then he told me i would have be a resident of the city to participate. Ultimately its was his decision to grant me it.

It seems like he didn't like the fact that i was applying around to other agencies.

[yzErnie]

Hiring is slow...no doubt about that. What I am seeing is that departments have put off hiring for so long now that they (we) are now having to hire folks just to remain at our absolute minimum staffing levels. My dept has well over 200 sworn vacancies (probably closer to 300) and we are slowly starting to hire. The problem for the applicant is this, when hiring slows they (we) have the ability to pick the most qualified and most problem free applicants. Unfortunnately, that leaves a lot of qualified candidates standing out on the door step. These types of hiring slumps happen and the only thing you can do is make sure you are on top of your game.

[yzErnie]

The reason is b/c i told him i applied to a Sheriff's dept. And he told me i would have to be applicant to their agency or a student to go on the ride along.

When i told him i was also a student. Then he told me i would have be a resident of the city to participate. Ultimately its was his decision to grant me it.

It seems like he didn't like the fact that i was applying around to other agencies.

Sounds like he had his decision made and there was no changing it. Seek out a ride-a-along elsewhere. Our hiring is virtually nonexistent...especially when compared to the hiring frenzies of just a couple years back.