BP Ride Along

[HarrisonS004]

I, like a few other Calgunners, am in the application process for Customs and Border Protection as a BPA. I passed my written exam with a 96% a few months ago and am waiting for the next steps. While I'm waiting for my Oral Board I was hoping to go on a ride along with them. I have held a few civilian jobs with a local PD and thus have been on many police, fire and ambulance ride alongs, but I would like to experience a little bit of the job I hope to have in a few months. I have searched the internet and have had no luck finding out how to arrange one. Im hoping one of the Federal LEO's on Calguns might have some advice. Thanks in advanced.

[Cpl. Haas]

You'll have to pass your OB before you can do a ride-along... the agents on your board can give you info on how to set one up once you've passed.

[LloydXmas250]

Passed my orals back in January. Still waiting for the medical exam. This process takes forever. I'm only saying this cause I started worrying so I figured I'd let you know if you didn't already. Passed my test last September. Good luck to you.

[DesertGunner]

There's no rule about needing to pass your OB before doing a ride along. Call a few stations and ask for a duty supervisor. Ask him or her about that station's ride along policies/procedures.

[rugershooter]

You'll have to pass your OB before you can do a ride-along... the agents on your board can give you info on how to set one up once you've passed.

Depends on the station. The week after I applied I called and just asked if I could go on a ride-along since I just applied. They scheduled it for 2 weeks after that. I've gone on two rides, both full shifts.

[Axewound]

What did you think of the ride alongs?

[rugershooter]

Definitely worth doing. I got to see the type of work environment and conditions the agents deal with, as well as a sampling of the types of illegal aliens they encounter. The first time I went we chased and they eventually arrested a group of 15 meth smugglers and the second time they caught 12 people who just jumped the fence.

[HarrisonS004]

Wow thanks for the info. Ill definitely give a call to a few stations. Sounds like pretty good rides ruger.

I know this is kinda unrelated, but has anyone had success getting a helicopter ride with a PD or SD? That has been a dream of mine for so long. I know a few people who have done Orange County Sheriffs Helicopter ride alongs, but they were all due the fact they had personal relationships with the pilots.

[Bunyfofu69]

The chief or PAIC's approve ride alongs. Most are for news entities. Contact your sectors public affairs office. They will give you an answer.

[Notorious]

I got a fly-along not too long ago with the Burbank/Glendale Joint Air Support Unit but they only do it for fellow LEO's, not civilians. LAPD stopped doing fly-alongs all together unless you're LAPD. LASD still does them last I heard but I haven't asked in a while.

Noisy. Bumpy. Cold. Smelled like jet fuel the whole time. But I would do it again in a heartbeat.