Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 527.02
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527.02
RIDE -ALONG PROGRAM
03-31-17
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish procedures for administering the Ride -Along Program.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to enhance public awareness of uniformed
officers’ role through the Ride -Along Program.
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
1. The Ride -Along Program is designed to acquaint citizens, civilian employees , and other
interested parties with the dutie s and responsibilities of uniformed officers in patrol.
2. For purposes of this order, participants in this program shall be referred to as "Ride -Along
(RAL)" and "host officer."
3. The Ride -Along Program shall be managed by the Area Captain s or designee s.
4. RALs shall be distributed throughout the area commands and among all three shifts.
5. Ride -Alongs with specialty units will be granted at the discretion of the appropriate Division
Commander or designee.
6. Exceptions to the Ride -Along Program selection and applica tion process may be made by the
Area Captains or their designees.
7. Reques ts to go on a sit -along with a d ispatcher shall be forwarded to the supervisor of the
Dispatcher Training Facility.
8. Requests to go on a ride -along with a crime scene i nvestigator (CSI) shall be forwarded to the
supervisor of the Forensic Investigations Section.
9. RALs will be allowed to ride a half -shift (5 hours) with the host officer. The host officer shall
have the discretion to extend the RAL for a full shift (10 hours).
B. CITIZEN RIDE -ALONG REQUESTS
1. Applicants shall complete and submit a Ride -Along Program Application (SPD 579) one month
in advance of the desired ride date.
2. Participants shall be allowed one ride -along per year due to limited space in the program.
3. The date and shift requ ested by the applicant should be accommodated whenever possible.
4. Requests for a specific host officer shall be approved by the Area Captains or their designees.
5. A complete Criminal History and Warrant check as outlined in SPD 579 shall be conducted on
all applicants . All results shall be printed out and attached to the application packet prior to
obtaining approval by the Area Captains or their designees.
6. If the application is approved, RALs shall be scheduled based on their availability and that of
the host station and sent a Ride Along Information Packet (SPD 576).
C. DEPARTMENTAL RIDE -ALONG REQUESTS
1. Department employees requesting to go on a ride -along while on duty shall submit a request
through their supervisor two weeks in advance of the desired ride d ate.
2. The supervisor shall review and either approve or deny the request. If the request is denied,
the supervisor shall document the reasons for the denial in an e mail to the employee.
3. If approved, the supervisor shall contact the Ride - Along Coordinator (RALC) from the host
station to schedule a date and time.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 527.02
Page 2 of 3
D. OUTSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (LEA) RIDE -ALONG REQUESTS
1. Outside law enforcement officers requesting to go on a ride -along shal l complete an Inter -
Agency Ride -Along Liability Release Waiver (SPD 578).
2. The completed SPD 578 shall be forwarded to the RALC at the host station.
3. All approved RALs should be sent an SPD 576 electronically indicating the location and time of
their schedul ed ride -along.
E. REQUIREMENT FOR RIDE -ALONGS
1. RALs shall
a. Be at least 18 years of age or older.
b. Limited to one (1) per person per district per shift.
c. Have average physical ability level and have no known impairment.
d. Project a professional appearance by weari ng neat, clean and appropriate clothing. If a
supervisor deems the RAL’s clothing inappropriate, the RAL shall change his/her attire or
the supervisor shall terminate the ride.
e. Wear a distinctive ID. Per GO 380.02, employees may wear their Department ID.
f. Report to their host station 30 minutes prior to their scheduled shift.
2. Department civilian personnel shall not wear uniforms during a ride -along but shall wear
clothing that conforms to on -duty requirements per GO 430.02.
F. RIDE -ALONG DENIAL
1. Applicants shall not be allowed to go on a ride -along unless otherwise approved by the Area
Captain s or designee s if they
a. Have been arrested for any crime with the past ten (10) years preceding the ride -along
b. Are suspected to be involved in any criminal, g ang, or illegal activity.
c. Have an outstanding warrant for their arrest.
d. Have a suspended or revoked driver’s license.
2. Applicants with a felony background or those with other security issues shall not be allowed to
participate in a ride -along without prior approval of the Area Captain s or designee s.
3. The RALC shall send a Ride -Along Denial Letter (SPD 577) to all applicants whose applications
were denied.
G. SPECIAL PROVISIONS
1. Juvenile Applicants may be approved to go on a ride -along with the