**College Student Needs Help**

[IlDuche]

Yea please don't call it a "simple" traffic stop or get huffed up about more than 1 unit being a "felony stop." Where I am we roll 2 man cars, and still have units rolling by on a "simple" traffic stop.

A "simple" stop for a brake light out almost killed me a couple years ago. And I know many guys who have similar "simple" stop stories.

A felony stop brings a lot of cops. A lot. Having 2 or 3 guys hang out while you get cited is just called cover.

[Tac380]

Yea please don't call it a "simple" traffic stop or get huffed up about more than 1 unit being a "felony stop." Where I am we roll 2 man cars, and still have units rolling by on a "simple" traffic stop.

A "simple" stop for a brake light out almost killed me a couple years ago. And I know many guys who have similar "simple" stop stories.

A felony stop brings a lot of cops. A lot. Having 2 or 3 guys hang out while you get cited is just called cover.

First off let me say I know a traffic stop is only simple when completed and that in reality there is no such thing as a simple traffic stop because you don't know what you are going to encounter. Someone pulled over for a tail light could have a felony warrant for their arrest of could have just robed a place or could be the neighbor next door. You just don't know and that why its not routine till its all over. And yes many officers have been injured on those so called simple traffic stop.

I used that term only to emphasize how calm of a night it was and the officers were bored. It was a funny sight as they just wanted an excuse to shoot the BS while someone was stopped. That ride along was done 25 years ago while I was in college and getting ready to go to the police academy. My background includes law enforcement. I transported prisoners across Northern CA, Southern OR, NV and occasionally flight extraditions from WA.

I would never make light of a fellow officer and a traffic stop. I apologize for any offense you or anyone else takes from my comment. That was never my intention.

[sfbay]

the problem with ride-a-alongs are the weirdos.

[CBR_rider]

I usually don't mind ride alongs, I have met some interesting people from all walks of life. I think ride alongs are a great way for people considering the job/agency to get a firsthand look as well as just give the public at large a glimpse into what LEO work actually involves.

I try to make the night interesting for a ride a long (code three runs exciting calls, etc) but I don't do much proactive work myself. I take the safety of my ride along seriously and don't want them to get hurt.

[IlDuche]

Tac380- no offense taken and I apologize if I came across poorly, not my intention either! Clearly you "get it," some don't. When the news or John Q use the terms routine or simple it just makes my skin crawl. But yea I hear ya, I've had low key stops with waaay more cops needed just to kill time.

On that note, a clearlake cop got crushed on a traffic stop today. Bad guy reversed and rammed him, all for a freakin warrant that he may have been cited out on at jail. Spine broken, major head and internal injuries. Hope he survives....

[Tac380]

I hadn't heard about the Clearlake officer. I remember being drilled never walk between the cars, always walk around them and to offset the vehicle on a stop. You never know what can happen and all the precautions you take can still result in an injury. I hope the officer survives, I didn't see anything on the news so I will have to search to see if our local station has anything.

[IlDuche]

http://m.pressdemocrat.com/articles/130923-896aa6c503.html

[Tac380]

thanks for sharing the article...I'm at a lose for words. I hope he makes a full recovery.

[xmikex]

Just went or a ride a long yesterday with a family friend in LASD. Since I knew him he told me I don't have to call him sir and that I was his buddy so to keep him from not getting bored(still treated him with respect and kept it professional). It seems like most of the officers who don't care for ride a kings just don't want to be stuck in a car for a long time with someone they don't know or a weirdo.

As for the ride a long it was very fun and exciting. Even when we had a couple hours of doing nothing and just driving around I still was enjoying myself. We went code 3 and that was exciting. My Friend is a very proactive officer so we were constantly going after people and actively searching. Checked up on a couple drug houses and stuff like that.

From knowing cops and doing ride a longs I think it would be good to have some people who dislike cops to go on a ride a long and see that cops are just like everyone else. My friend was doin his job and pulled over numerous people but for minor stuff he would give them a warning and not ruin their day because they weaved over a line around a corner.

With him it seemed like if you were cool and treated him with respect he would treat you the same way and for the most part give you a warning.

He actually told me I would be with him the whole shift guess it just depends who you are with and how the officer and you get a long.

[Samuelx]

It seems like most of the officers who don't care for ride a kings [longs] just don't want to be stuck in a car for a long time with someone they don't know or a weirdo.

And the Unreasonableness of that opinion/desire would be what exactly? lol

He actually told me I would be with him the whole shift guess it just depends who you are with and how the officer and you get a long.

I made it a rule to drop off strangers and weirdos earlier in the shift than normal people that I knew and liked...

[1CavScout]

The worst part of ride alongs for me was having to clear all my gear off my passenger seat. I would still rather have a ride along, than a rock for a trainee in my car for three weeks though...

[eightmd]

I have some friends who do them...in the back seat.

Is that what they call an unscheduled ride along?

[Samuelx]

Is that what they call an unscheduled ride along?

unscheduled, involuntary - same difference...

[whyhatchu]

Hey guys, I've contacted the station supervisor for Santa Ana PD to schedule my ride a long but I was informed that the wait list would be a couple of months.

I know it's a hassle but would any officers be willing to volunteer to take me out on a ride along? I just need to go on at least one before December. You don't have to take me the entire time and can just drop me off whenever. Please PM me. Thank you Calguns LEOs

[drewXD/G23]

Hi all.... I have done a lot of ride alongs with friends and family... And they were GREAT! But one of my favorite ride alongs are the Birds eye view.... "Fly Alongs" vary fun and interesting...