ride a longs

it has been a long time since iv posted here and since then i went on a ride along.

it was great. the field training officer showed me everything inside and out. i felt really comfortable with him and he answered any questions i had. even the dumb ones that alot of the public hear and dont know the facts. he even talked to me about personal things which made me feel pretty good about. i was with him for about 6 hours. 8pm-2am. we had a few accidents a few calls for dui drivers. even busted a group drag racing. in total i saw 5 people get arrested. all for dui. i even had a long talk with the sarg and the rest of the guys on duty in the squad room. they talking to me about everything including how they felt when they 1st started and how it is now. it was one of the greatest experiences in my life that made me feel 100% sure i wanted to get into the field.

so my question is. do you like taking people out there and showing them what you do everyday?

Depends on where the person that is asking is coming from if you know what I mean. We don't have a ride-a-long program at my agency. If I didn't think the person that is wanting to ride with me is wanting to do it for the right reasons they would not be riding with me for long. Not busting your balls, just saying.

i hear you on that. im speaking more of people like me who are really looking into becoming a leo and it will help with their final decision

Give the thread time. I'm going to let other chime in on this one.

I know several officers that don't really like ride a longs. I don't mind them myself. It is a good tool to give people a glimpse of what we deal with everyday. I also think applicants should ride often with the dept they are applying with. This gives the dept a chance to meet the and vice versa.

Now keep in mind if the ride a long isn't doing what I tell him to do he will find his adventure over real quick

Ride a longs are to be seen and not heard, speak when spoken to etc.

When I worked for the county we had them, we don't here. They have there place and I can see where it is beneficial; like Five-0 said, if they're wanting to ride for the right reasons...

Our ride along program is geared towards our applicants, they have to complete at least 40 hours, prior to moving forward with the application process. I don't mind them, I don't volunteer for them if you know what I mean............;-)

We have a ride along program, but I'm not a big fan of taking them.

I like being alone in my car. I'm also very type "A" and there are multiple items that I like on my passenger seat. With a rider, the whole feng shui of my car get's thrown off.

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Originally Posted by jmur5074

We have a ride along program, but I'm not a big fan of taking them.

I like being alone in my car. I'm also very type "A" and there are multiple items that I like on my passenger seat. With a rider, the whole feng shui of my car get's thrown off.

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I agree with the get's thrown off, I hate moving my crap to the back seat..........I see a new thread again with pictures of our rolling offices, coming soon..............;-)

I personally don't mind ride alongs. As a matter of fact, I met one of my best freinds through a ride along. He was taking CJ and had to do so many ride alongs. His normal ride wasn't available, so he ended up with me. We hit it off and have been good freinds since. Of course that doesn't always happen.

Also, I like letting the general public get an idea of what our job entails. As opposed to what they see on You Tube and the news. Mobile runs a Citizen's Academy and they have to do ride alongs as part of the course. I've had a few of them and they tell me that the whole thing is very eye opening.

Of course, I've gotten some wierdos too. Those suck. But it's ok for the most part.

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Originally Posted by McCrackhd

I personally don't mind ride alongs. As a matter of fact, I met one of my best freinds through a ride along. He was taking CJ and had to do so many ride alongs. His normal ride wasn't available, so he ended up with me. We hit it off and have been good freinds since. Of course that doesn't always happen.

Also, I like letting the general public get an idea of what our job entails. As opposed to what they see on You Tube and the news. Mobile runs a Citizen's Academy and they have to do ride alongs as part of the course. I've had a few of them and they tell me that the whole thing is very eye opening.

Of course, I've gotten some wierdos too. Those suck. But it's ok for the most part.

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thanks for the positive post. im not just talking about any joe shmoe that walks in the door. in fact he was the one who asked me if i wanted to do it. ( i ask alot of questions so i think he can tell i was very serious about it.)

I sort of see riders as a necessary evil. I do like that the program allows people to glimpse my world, I think there's value in that. It can give an applicant an idea of whether or not they want to do this, or it can promote understanding between the department and other community members. That said, the experience isn't really a pleasant one for me. It's not horrible or anything, it's just that I'd generally rather not have a stranger tagging along with me for half the night. I like that we have a ride along program, though, so I don't bitch when it's my turn to take the rider.

Most of my riders seem to have a pretty good time. It always makes me smile when I realize that they're excited after watching a call that I thought was pretty mundane.

I just remembered this. Several years back, an officer in another pct had a ride along (that he didn't know). Of course, the ride along isn't supposed to get out of the car, especially on hot calls.

They go to a domestic, or something like that, one armed with a gun. The officer, I shit you not, gives his ride along his shotgun and tells him to go around and cover the back. :jaw: The ride along does as he's told, and almost gets shot by the officers already in the back. Yeah, they're at the back door, and here comes this guy, in plain clothes of course, running around the corner with a friggin shotgun!! :doh:

And yes, that officer still works here.

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Originally Posted by jmur5074

We have a ride along program, but I'm not a big fan of taking them.

I like being alone in my car. I'm also very type "A" and there are multiple items that I like on my passenger seat. With a rider, the whole feng shui of my car get's thrown off.

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Haha..I agree with this :D After being an FTO for more then 3 years...it was very zen to get my front seat back..with all my stuff in its little place. Lovely. :biggrin1:

And ride-a-longs are ok although I usually only prefer to have a ride-a-long who is a cop from another agency...easier to "look after" and not worry as much about. I do think, however, it can be important for spouse to ride so they get an idea of what their other half does on a daily basis or for family members. Those who are indecisive about whether being a police officer is what they want to do ride-a-longs are a good way to see. I will take someone but would rather not.

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Originally Posted by Wolven

Haha..I agree with this :D After being an FTO for more then 3 years...it was very zen to get my front seat back..with all my stuff in its little place. Lovely. :biggrin1:

And ride-a-longs are ok although I usually only prefer to have a ride-a-long who is a cop from another agency...easier to "look after" and not worry as much about. I do think, however, it can be important for spouse to ride so they get an idea of what their other half does on a daily basis or for family members. Those who are indecisive about whether being a police officer is what they want to do ride-a-longs are a good way to see. I will take someone but would rather not.

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How often does yours spouse ride with you? :noidea:

I do not care for ride along's that are civilians. I have had them in the past and I was paranoid the entire time for their safety. Out of jurisdiction officers are more than welcome. My current agency does not offer a civilian ride along program.

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Originally Posted by McCrackhd

I just remembered this. Several years back, an officer in another pct had a ride along (that he didn't know). Of course, the ride along isn't supposed to get out of the car, especially on hot calls.

They go to a domestic, or something like that, one armed with a gun. The officer, I shit you not, gives his ride along his shotgun and tells him to go around and cover the back. :jaw: The ride along does as he's told, and almost gets shot by the officers already in the back. Yeah, they're at the back door, and here comes this guy, in plain clothes of course, running around the corner with a friggin shotgun!! :doh:

And yes, that officer still works here.

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how does he still have his job after that...?

and i had to sign a few papers. when the sarg handed them to me i asked what they were for. his response "well basicly.. if you die your mom cant sue" :doh:

they also made me wear a vest. i think it was also better that i knew him personally and he made it very clear before we left the station what to do in situations and when i can get out of the car

They made you wear a vest? Wow. I can't imagine my agency supplying a vest to a rider.

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Originally Posted by Wolven

HahI do think, however, it can be important for spouse to ride so they get an idea of what their other half does on a daily basis or for family members.

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Not. A. Chance.






Although in High School I did do a ride a long with my dad as part of a required job shadowing thing.

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Originally Posted by Wolven

I do think, however, it can be important for spouse to ride so they get an idea of what their other half does on a daily basis or for family members.

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Originally Posted by Pudge

Not. A. Chance.

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On a different note completely my wife applied for and received a reserve commission with my former agency and was an active rider with me while I was employed there. She was not a civilian ride along but a reserve officer. I do not recommend this at all, nor do I think most agencies would allow it but in our own specific case it was very much an eye opener.