Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (04/21/2022 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: RIDE -ALONG PROGRAM
Index as: Civilian Ride-along Ride-along Program
Accreditation Standards: 44.2.5, CFA 14.15
Cross Reference : G.O. III -17, Pursuits
G.O. II -3, Release of Information to the Public and News Media
YRS SOP I -04, Public Safety Cadets
City Rules and Regulations of the Personnel Management System, Section 6 -5, B.
Replaces : G.O. III-4, Ride-along Program ( December 13, 2019 )
This Order consists of the following sections:
I. Purpose
II. Authorized Ride -along Participants
III. Application Process
IV. Scheduling and Officer Assignment
V. Procedures
VI. Trainee/Cadet Ride -along
I. PURPOSE
The Ride -along Program offers a learning experience enabling participants to observe police patrol procedures and fosters
mutual respect between the public and the St. Petersburg Police Department. For cadets and students, the program may
supplement classroom training through observation and discussion.
II. AUTHORIZED RI DE-ALONG PARTICIPANTS
A. Police O fficers from other agencies. These persons may wear their own concealed protective vests and must
declare they intend to do so when they are scheduled.
B. Department C haplains or other clergy and members of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM ) Team .
C. Department employees (including trainees/cadets) and active volunteer s who would benefit from the experience.
D. Students of criminal justice or law enforcement programs with a letter provided by the school confirming current
enrollment.
E. Public Safety Cadets in compliance with YRS SOP I -04, Public Safety Cadets .
F. Immediate fa mily members of O fficers as defined by City Rules and Regulations of the Personnel Management
System, Section 6 -5, B. These persons shall ride in districts o ther than those to which their O fficer family member is
assigned.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
August 2017 Immediately III-04
Distribution: All Employees
General Order III -04
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (04/21/2022 ) G. St. Petersburg Police Department Officer candidates who are being processed through PASS (Police Applicant
Screening Service) or the City Employee Relations Department.
H. Graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy, Wish Academy, Volunteer Road Patrol Academy , or other program(s)
sponsored by the Department.
I. Other persons based upon their position in the community, employment, or specific need, including members of the
following:
1. City boards and organizations.
2. Crime Watch coordinators.
3. Neighborhood associations.
4. Citizens Review Committee.
5. Leadership St. Pete.
6. Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA).
J. Members of the media.
1. These participants must receive approval from the Assistant Chief , Uniform Services Bureau to ride along.
2. Notes of a general nature may be taken, but specific records must be released following established procedures
for public record requests as defined in J:\Research \GeneralOrders \II Administrative General Orders \II-03 Release Of
Information To The Public and News Media.pdf .
3. No video cameras, photog raphic cameras or audio recorde rs are pe rmitted without prior written approval of the
Assistant Chief , Uniform Services Bureau.
4. At no time, will members of the media accompany police personnel into a private residence or a business that
is not open to the public.
K. All Ride-along participants, except Department civilian employees, Public Safety Cadets , members of City boards
and members of the Department’s CISM Team, will normally be restricted to one occasion. Exceptions shall be determined
by the Assistant Chief , Uniform Services Bureau.
III. APPLICATION PROCESS
A. Perso ns participating in the Ride -along Program must be authorized by the Assistant Chief , Uniform Services
Bureau, or designee. Anyone requesting to participate must have a purpose , not just a desire to ride.
B. Ride-along participants must be at least sixteen (16) years old.
C. The Major, Uniform Support Services, or designee , shall coordinate a basic background check unless the
information is currently on file.
1. The check will include a search of NCIC, FCIC and CJIS records; The Uniform Support Major or designee shall
reasonably verify the information (DOB, SSN, address, stude nt’s school) provided by the applicant, prior to scheduling the
ride.
2. Applicants who typically have a completed background check on file include:
a. Department employees.
b. Commissioned officers of the Armed Forces.
c. Enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces who are currently serving in a law enforcement or security
classification (e.g. Army Military Police, Air Force Security Police, Navy Shore Patrol, etc.).
General Order III -04
Revisions or additions are highlighted 3 (04/21/2022 ) d. Applicants who have passed the polygraph test phase of pre -employment processing.
e. Public Safety Cadet s.
f. Sworn O fficers from other criminal justice agencies.
D. All Ride -along participants, except Department civilian employees and Public Safety Cadets , must sign
J:\Forms \Ride A Long Hold Harmless.pdf before each ride. The completed agreement will be forwarded to the office of the
Major, Uniform Support Services, or designee , for processing and scheduling.
E. All