Policy Text
I. Program Participation Procedures
A. Applicants for this program must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
B. A written request is required from the applicant requesting to participate,
including the preferred date and hours requested. There is a five-day
waiting period for all requests.
C. Requests to participate in this program from any news media
representatives will be referred to the Chief’s Office for approval
D. When a person requests to participate in this Program, the Shift
Commander or designee of the District the observer has requested to ride
in, will conduct a criminal records check to ensure the person does not
have any outstanding warrants or has a criminal record that would
disqualify them.
1. After the criminal records check, the person will be interviewed by
the affected Shift Commander who will evaluate the applicant’s
fitness to participate in the program. A person may be refused
participation if, in the opinion of the Shift Commander, the
applicant’s participation in the Program may compromise officer
safety.
2. Approval rests with the Shift Commander. Upon approval, the
person will sign a Civilian Observer Release, Waiver and Covenant
Not to Sue, Form 094-A.
3. All paperwork will be forwarded to the Patrol Division Major for
review prior to the ride-along and then forwarded to the
Support Services Division for retention.