**College Student Needs Help**

[Petro6golf]

To add to this post....

I'll be honest and blunt and I said this a few years ago..... Ride a longs SUCK!!! Neither me, nor 99% of my coworkers like a ride-a-long. Just know that going into a ride. Nobody likes to have a complete stranger sitting next to you, watching you at work for 8-12 hrs per day. Would YOU like like a stranger sitting next to your desk, watching you work a few times per month? He'll no you wouldn't!

So, knowing that ride-a-longs are here to stay, if you go on one, here's a few pointers: Go have fun, but STFU! Don't tell the cop what to do, or what your opinion is. Don't try to be his/her friend. Just, watch and observe and keep "reasonable" questions to a minimum. Nobody likes somebody with a mouth that continues to talk and talk and talk. Dont try to point out traffic violators!!!! I once had a rider that did that with me, i took him back to the station and said the ride was over! Also, don't try to be a bad-@$$, Just be humble.

Last, don't be a career ride-alonger! There are some people that insist on riding time and time again. Believe me, those are HATED at stations.

I think im the only guy that doesnt mind them. Not to sound high and mighty but I feel there should be transparency in law enforcement. A lot of the general public views it as something mysterious and views cops as unapproachable or an us vs them thing. Im totally approachable and enjoy showing ral's what I do, how I handle stuff and answer any questions however stupid they are. The thing I dont like with them is when they point out traffic violations, try to use cop slang, tell me stupid stories, show up wearing 511 boots and tac pants or if I feel the RAL will nark on me if I tell a suspect to stfu or if I yell at someone. Plus its a lonely night cause none of my partners want to 98 to chat.

To the OP: if you go on one, read the do's and donts of this thread, dont dress like an ***, dont ask if the cop has ever shot anyone, and dont ride the whole shift. leave the cop a few hours to decompress and bs with his friends.

[IlDuche]

If you see any female cops, especially attractive ones, dear god don't say anything. We had one rider go all puppy dog, then said something to the cop he was with. Details of the exact statement excluded, but went along the lines of "wow you get to work with a fine *** like that? I couldn't, be too busy staring or thinking of f'ing her."
The cop he was riding with was her husband.
Which didn't end well for the rider. Who was applying.

[IlDuche]

I agree with the leave early. Ride alongs can be okay, but generally suck. If you do one, be considerate and leave early. For a 10 hour shift, leave after 6. Plus if they run 2 man cars you're screwing not only the cop you're with but his partner too.

[AirsoftGunr]

I've been on a few way bacj when I was applying. Most of them were zzzzzzzz. Oh lucky when we got to respond to a trailer park in the worst part of town where an old lady hoarder had to go on for about an hour regarding her grandsons Xbox being stolen... I will never forget that smell. Either way, dress business casual, don't step on the officers toes, and forget any police lingo you may have picked up. And above all, if you're lucky enough to get outta the car, keep your mouth shut and observe.

[TrailerparkTrash]

I've been on a few way bacj when I was applying. Most of them were zzzzzzzz.

They were probably zzzzzzzzz because you might have been bla bla bla bla bla....

I've know many a cops that when they have a ride along, they shut down and don't do anything except respond to calls. Yes I'm repeating, ride alongs are hated that much by most cops. No pro activity whatsoever. Again, its that feeling of coming to work and looking at the in-service (roster), seeing that they've put a complete stranger with you at your desk (car), just to watch you all damn day. How swell is that? The feeling for most is "oh $h!+, another ride along!"

The main issue is, here's a cop that has a frick'n job to do. He/she does it day in and day out. Trying to do your job while at the same time having to "entertain" someone that wants to ride along "just because" is a drag. I understand that many applicants are required to go on rides and that's just part of the hiring process. I'm specifically focusing more on "habitual" or "chronic" ride alongs. They suck.

[Akers]

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

[xmikex]

Got one scheduled for this Sunday with a family friend of mine. He told me pretty much that I will be with him pretty much his whole shift. Guess it just depends if you know the person or not. Will be my second ride a long

[Tac380]

LONG AGO when I was a student I did 2 ride a longs with my neighbor. I was fortunate to do the whole shift with his blessing. It was a very interesting experience, I had some bad experiences with LEO in my past and had no respect for any LEO. My neighbor took a lot of crap from me and slowly changed my mind about LEOs and he was the reason I eventually went to the police academy. He gave me a new outlook and I always wanted to make him proud.
I'm since disabled and have done a ride a long with a friend in a school district. It was nice getting back into a patrol car for almost the entire shift (nice to have friends) and see what school cops do.

Ride a longs can be fun & informative but they can be a pain in the butt for officers who have their routines messed up or have a know it all or someone who won't shut up.

If you go on one, keep in mind the officer has an added responsibility to protect you, he doesn't have time to babysit. Please don't play the WHAT IF game and STAY in the car unless you get permission to get out. You can learn a lot about what happens in your community and you'll find out cops are regular people like you and your neighbors.

[SkyStorm82]

They were probably zzzzzzzzz because you might have been bla bla bla bla bla....

I've know many a cops that when they have a ride along, they shut down and don't do anything except respond to calls. Yes I'm repeating, ride alongs are hated that much by most cops. No pro activity whatsoever. Again, its that feeling of coming to work and looking at the in-service (roster), seeing that they've put a complete stranger with you at your desk (car), just to watch you all damn day. How swell is that? The feeling for most is "oh $h!+, another ride along!"

The main issue is, here's a cop that has a frick'n job to do. He/she does it day in and day out. Trying to do your job while at the same time having to "entertain" someone that wants to ride along "just because" is a drag. I understand that many applicants are required to go on rides and that's just part of the hiring process. I'm specifically focusing more on "habitual" or "chronic" ride alongs. They suck.

Preach it brother.

[Mason McDuffie]

I don't mind ride alongs, but at the same point I don't get excited when I hear I have one. I agree with two of the above posters. I think allowing a ride along in the car allows the public a view of what we do. With that said, I agree with another poster that when someone is riding up front I don't do anything proactive. It's dangerous enough with me out in the playing field. Worrying about whoever is staying with the car while I make contact is another. If things go sideways you gotta deal with the implications of that as well.

I had a ride along this evening. Shagged calls and answered questions. It seems like whenever I do have someone in the passenger seat.....I see all the good stops I can't make hahaha.

[TransplantTexan]

I was lucky enough to do a ride along this past July in Aurora CO on the anniversary of the theater shooting (even met one of the officers who arrested Holmes).

What made it especially nice was that the officer was my son. He said I had to do the whole shift (friday graveyard 10pm - 8 am). The rules for the ride along were sign the waiver and I can go wherever he goes (with in reason). Of course I stayed out of the way/with the car when I knew it was better.

His shift supervisor put him in the '600' car which meant we were the roving patrol with no assigned area. In the course of the shift we had a foot chase (no I didn't join in), a car chase (1/2 mile), 3 shots fired or person with a gun, Lots of DV or see the lady calls and 4 high speed runs (115 mph) through the city (2 past the midnight memorial at the theater).

Some of the calls were from someone having 'problems'. One elderly lady was in the apartment parking lot and 'confused' and feeling like she was going to hurt herself. The officers that took the call treated her with compassion and got her an ambulance and a ride to the hospital.

On a whole I saw all the officers treat the public with what I call fair but firm attitude.

It was eye-opening/interesting for me to see what he deals with on a daily basis. I was already proud of him (he joined the Marines out of High School), this just increased the proud dad factor.

Thanks to all you guys for putting up with the publics misconceptions of what you guys do.

Oh and he gave me a customized Premier knife (blade, seat belt cutter and window break point) with the Aurora Badge on the side.

[Samuelx]

That's really cool TT!

[Samuelx]

I might be in the minority but I didn't really mind ride alongs all that much (and yes, I had a couple of nightmare ones too). Most of mine were applicants, explorers, chaplains, volunteers, misc. etc and I got assigned enough of them that I typed out a page long ground rules and expectations sheet for them to read while I was loading up the car. It DID get kinda annoying though, when I'd have more days in the work week with ridealongs than without.

I went on more than half a dozen rides before I became sworn and I enjoyed and appreciated each one - I still remember each person I rode with and it's good seeing them sometimes around the county. I also worked as a civilian on the department before I became sworn. From those experiences, I told myself that should I ever make it to the show, I'd be happy to give ride alongs and do chow runs and some of the other stuff that can get really tiresome.

Because ridealongs officers are like a box of chocolates, for those researching the job and/or a particular department/agency, I usually recommend doing as many rides as possible with different personnel on different days during different shifts and also requesting, if possible, to be assigned to someone who doesn't mind having people ride along.

[kentactic]

I rode with my buddy in the border patrol over night. We caught 3 "bodies". I wasn't allowed to tackle anyone technically so I just ran fast and looked big for intimidation factor. They all squatted and put their hands up immediatly. It was bassically what I expected from government workers. Several officers posted up in their trucks and went to sleep. My friend and his buddy are really the only two gunhoe guys on that shift. We met up with him and huffed it a bit(in snow falling in CA) checking a sensor that was hit an hour or so prior. No sign so we split. Then come near sun up other officers got on some sign and pushed them to us who happened to crest a hill just as they were about to cross the trail. They were deer in the headlights lol..

[Tac380]

Two of my ride a longs were with San Mateo PD and I remember one stop was a DUI. I was allowed to get out of the car and watch my friend give a field sobriety test.

As I was watching another officer rolled up. My friend went to get something from the trunk and I stepped off the curb to take a peak in the trunk when the newly arrived officer firmly but politely directed me to step back on the sidewalk and move away from the patrol car. At this point I wasn't sure if he knew I was a ride a long or not but I didn't want to seem rude and say anything to come off wrong if he indeed did know. A few minutes past and my friend put the lady in the back seat to take her to the county jail. He then told me I could get back into the car.

When my friend got back in the car he told me the back up officer apologized for his comments and that he did not realize we were friends and I was doing a ride a long. I thought it was funny.

My 2nd ride a long was boring, a city that normal 20-30 calls every hour had 3 calls for the entire shift. The officers were so bored they were calling in to back up officers for simple traffic stops. They had 2-3 back up officers for a traffic stop of a broken taillight or headlight out.

I felt sorry for the people stopped for a taillight out with that many officer, it looked like they were making a felony stop. lol