Policy Text
04.03.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this general order is to establish guidelines and procedures for the
Concord Police Department Ride Along Program.
04.03.1 POLICY
The Concord Police Department recognizes the value of allowing citizens to accompany its
officers as they carry out their duties. Due to the inherent risks associated with law
enforcement and the demands placed upon an officer, a balance must be maintained
between community outreach and safety of the officer. Therefore, it is the policy of the
Concord Police Department to allow eligible citizens to accompany officers under the
circumstances outlined in this order.
04.03.2 ELIGIBLE PERSONS
A. Prior to participating, all prospective participants must complete and submit a Ride
Along Application – Waiver to Participate (Form RA-1). If the participant is requesting
a specific date or officer to ride with, the application must be submitted at least 14
days prior to the requested date of participation.
B. Have not been convicted nor have pending any felony or a misdemeanor for which
the potential penalty of si xty (60) days of confinement with the final disposition
occurring within the past five (5) years.
C. Off-duty members of other federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies.
D. Members of organized community groups including but not limited to: community
watch organization members, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), business
organizations, and civic clubs.
E. Members of the academic community for the purpose of conducting research.
F. Participants under the age of 18 must have a signed consent of a parent or guardian
and approval from the Chief of Police.
G. On duty civilian coworkers of the City of Concord for work related purposes. Off-duty
officers of the Concord Police Department may not participate in a ride-along.
CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
RIDE ALONG PROGRAM
GENERAL ORDER : 04.03 CREATED: April 1, 2005 ISSUED : December 12, 2024
ACTION : Re-numbers general order dated October 1, 2022 . EFFECTIVE DATE: December 12, 2024
General Order 04.03 RIDE-ALONG PROGRAM Page 2 of 3
04.03.3 PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
A. All applications to participate in the Ride -Along Program shall be forwarded to the
Patrol Bureau commander for review.
B. Upon approval from the Patrol Bureau commander, the application will be forwarded
to the Support Services Division commander , or designee, who shall be responsible
for conducting background checks of prospective participants.
C. The Patrol Bureau commander will determine the date and time for each ride -along
participant with consideration given to department operations and the wishes of the
participant.
D. If approved, the participant must sign a waiver of liability (Form RA -1), and it must
be submitted to the Patrol Bureau commander at least five (5) business days prior
to the date of participation in the Ride Along Program.
If a situation is such that the five -day time requirement cannot reasonably be met,
the Patrol Bureau comma nder may exercise discretion in permitting individuals to
ride along after submitting a signed waiver.
E. Once a participant has been approved, the watch commander shall be notified of the
date and times the participant will ride with an officer. If no speci fic officer has been
designated for the participant to accompany on the ride along, the watch commander
shall designate an officer for the participant to ride with.
F. The maintaining of all requests with appropriate notations regarding time,
frequency, and duration of participants, rejections (with reasons), background
information, etc., shall be the responsibility of the administration manager for proper
documentation and retention.
04.03.4 RESTRICTIONS
A. Ride-along participants may only ride with an officer who has one -year experience
since swear -in date or more unless otherwise approved by the Chief of Police.
B. Family members of an officer will not be permitted to ride with t hat officer but may
ride with another officer upon the approval of the Patrol Bureau commander. For
purposes of 04.03.3 (B), a family member includes members of the household,
spouse, child, sibling, in -law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild,
first cousin, in addition to the various combinations of half, step, adopted and
intimate partn er relationships.
C. A ride along shall not last more than 6 hours, unless approved by the Chief of
Police.
D. Participants will have the opportunity to observe routine law enforcement activities.
They will not assist in the enforcement of laws.
General Order 04.03 RIDE-ALONG PROGRAM Page 3 of 3
E. Participants are not allowed to ride more than twice within a calendar year unless
otherwise approved by the Chief of Police. Civilian City of Concord employ ee ride
along participants shall only ride once per calendar year.
F. Participants will be required to dress in business casual attire. Participants who
arrive wearing shorts, t -shirts, flip -flop type shoes or another type of dress deemed
inappropriate will not be allowed to participate in the Ride -Along Program. The watch
commander will determine attire suitability.
G. Only one (1) participant will be allowed in each vehicle.
H