Policy Text
OBSERVER PROGRAM
EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/01/96 STANDARD NO. 029 REVISED: 03/03/16
REPLACES: SOP Civilian Observers– Rev. 06/01/05; Rev. 04/08/11
OBJECTIVE: To establish criteria for allowing individuals to participate in the Observer
Program.
POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to allow individuals to
participate in the Observer Program to learn about police activities through
observation and participation in police training; (i.e., college students, community
residents interested in civic affairs, representatives of the news media, and
members of organizations involved in resolving police-community problems).
SCOPE: All employees of this Department will be governed by the procedures set forth
below.
I. PROTOCOLS:
A. All participants will complete a Hold Harmless Agreement to participate as an observer
and submit the form to the Chief of Police, or a designated member of the command
staff, prior to the proposed ride. This shall include civilian departmental personnel who
voluntarily seek participation, representatives from various media organizations
including, but not limited to, local, national, and international news-reporting entities, film
and production companies, and sworn personnel from other law enforcement agencies.
No employee under the rank of captain may approve a civilian observer to participate in
the Observer Program. The Chief of Police, or designee, may decline to allow a person
to participate as an observer.
B. The Dispatcher(s) on duty will complete an FCIC/NCIC check and note on the
agreement as to whether or not a record or a criminal history was found. The Hold
Harmless Agreement will be placed in the Supervisor’s tray in Dispatch and the
Supervisor will forward the Hold Harmless Agreement to the Chief’s Office.
C. Upon approval by the Chief of Police, or designee, the Executive Assistant to the Chief
of Police will contact the participant to make arrangements for a date and shift for the
participant to ride.
D. Once the arrangements have been made, an e-mail will be sent to All Patrol Supervisors
and All Dispatchers notifying them of the participant’s name, date and shift that the
participant is scheduled to ride. The Hold Harmless Agreement will be placed
downstairs in the roll call book; and upon completion of the ride-along, the Supervisor on
duty will note completion of the ride-along, and the Hold Harmless Agreement will be
forwarded to the Chief’s office for filing.
E. Citizens under eighteen years of age must have a waiver signed by their parent or legal
guardian in the presence of a supervisor. In addition, individuals must have a valid
reason for riding, such as an assignment from school.
Observer Program – SOP# 029
F. Any supervisor may refuse to allow prospective participants to ride if, in his judgment,
there is some question of propriety. The supervisor will assign all rides at his/her
discretion.
G. The supervisor assigning the observer is responsible for ensuring that the observer
meets the dress code requirements set forth in the Waiver Indemnification and Hold
Harmless Agreement. The attire worn by the observer must be acceptable to the
supervisor on duty (i.e., no halter tops, jeans, shorts, open-toe shoes, etc.).
H. Under no circumstances will an observer be armed. Being in possession of a concealed
weapons permit will not be considered an exception.
I. Observers will be limited to two (2) ride-alongs within any calendar year. The Chief of
Police, or designated member of the command staff, may grant an exception.
1. A waiver of the two rides per 12-month period limitation may be extended to
persons in the categories of: college students; community residents interested in
civic affairs; representatives of the news media; members of known organizations
involved in resolving police-community problems; personnel in the film industry;
foreign government dignitaries; incumbent politicians; local, state, and federal
government officials; or other persons showing a need for police knowledge.