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419 Ride Along Program (Revised 4-11-2022)FRIDLEY POLICE DATE OF ISSUE NUMBER: GENERAL ORDER May 15, 2008 419 SUBJECT: REVISION DATE SECTION: Ride-Along Program April 22, 2022 Green I. PURPOSE To formulate standard department policy and procedures regarding the Ride- Along program. II. POLICY The Ride-Along program is in effect so that Fridley citizens can observe the operations of the police department, volunteers can become educated as to the functions of the police department and students can learn about policing as a profession. III. PROCEDURE A. Program Eligibility 1. Applicants for the Ride-Along program must meet one of the following criteria to participate in the program: a. Currently reside within the City of Fridley. b. Be a member of a civic organization located within the City of Fridley. c. Be employed by the City of Fridley in a position that would be facilitated by knowledge of departmental procedures and functions. d. Be an active police officer applicant with the City of Fridley Police Department. e. Be employed in the public safety field with a City, County, State or Federal department or agency. f. Be enrolled as a student in the last year of an accredited law enforcement program. g. Be a Law Enforcement Explorer Scout with the City of Fridley Police Department. h. Be a member of the family of an employee of this department. i. Demonstrate a special interest for participation that would benefit the police department, city government, or its citizens. B. Application 1. This is a voluntary program conducted in the interest of public enlightenment. The Police Department reserves the right to limit or exclude any person from participation in the Ride-Along program when it is deemed by the Department that the person’s participation would not be in the best interest of the police department, of any of its individual members, or the public, or when it might reasonably be construed that a conflict of interest may exist between the applicant and the Police Department or its mission. 2. Adult Applicants a. Applicants must complete a Ride-Along Program application and submit the completed application to the police department at least five (5) business days prior to the expected Ride-Along date. b. Approved applicants will be required to sign the waiver section of the application in the presence of a police officer when they report for the Ride-Along. c. Approved applicants must have their driver’s license or other valid photo identification with them when they report for the Ride-Along. 3. Juvenile Applicants a. Juvenile applicants must be at least 16 years of age to participate in the program or 14 years of age for Law Enforcement Explorer Scouts of the Department. b. Applicants must follow all application instructions and have their parent/guardian sign the waiver section of the application prior to submitting the application. c. Approved applicants will be required to sign the waiver section in the presence of an officer when they report for the Ride-Along. 4. Participants will generally be allowed to ride no more than twice per calendar year. 5. The Patrol Division Commander or shift supervisor will evaluate ride-along applications. The shift supervisor will schedule and make the assignments of the ride-along. In rare short notice situations, when the request is from a friend or relative of the officer, the officer may obtain approval from his/her sergeant. Prior notice and administrative approval is preferred. 6. Participants must submit to a criminal history records check and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Security Awareness Training. These items must be completed prior to the participant riding along. C. Ride-Along Program Participation Rules and Regulations 1. Participants must report to the Police Department at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled Ride-Along time. 2. Participants must bring their driver’s license or other photo identification when they report for the Ride-Along. Juveniles who report with their parent/guardian do not have to bring such identification provided their parent/guardian presents identification. 3. Attire for participation is casual business. No shorts, tank tops, or sandals are allowed. Shoes are required. Participants should bring appropriate outerwear based on weather and temperature. 4. The shift supervisor or Patrol Division Commander will designate with whom the participant will ride. 5. The shift supervisor may terminate the Ride-Along at any time if in their opinion continued participation presents an undue risk, or the participant’s conduct, deportment or sobriety is such that their continued participation is not in the best interests of the department. A complete report will be forwarded to the Patrol Division Commander of the reasons for termination. 6. Extensions of Ride-Along time limits may only be made with the approval of the shift supervisor. 7. Participants are prohibited from carrying with them during the Ride-Along any flashlight, camera, any type of radio, tape recorder or player, binoculars, or any similar device. With the exception of off-duty P.O.S.T. licensed police officers, participants, including holders of carry permits, are prohibited from carrying any weapon, personal chemical protection device, or restraining device of any kind during the Ride-Along. a. Off-duty P.O.S.T. licensed police officer participants may carry their firearm while on a ride-along provided they also wear something that obviously identifies them as a police officer; e.g. jacket or vest with POLICE on it. The shift supervisor must be notified if an off-duty officer participant is armed. 8. Participants are observers; they will not exit the police vehicle during any police activity unless directed to do so by a police officer. Participants will refrain from direct involvement in police functions or conversation with violators, suspects, arrestees, witnesses, complainants, or other members of the public encountered during the course of the official duties of the police officer with whom they are riding. 9. Participants may be asked to temporarily interrupt the Ride-Along during hazardous or unusual circumstances. Participants will immediately comply with such requests and otherwise obey the directions of the police officer with whom they are riding. D. Ride-Along Program Operation 1. Officers will consider the safety of their ride-along participant at all times. Persons who are riding along will not be allowed to participate in dangerous or violent situations. Officers should instruct participants in appropriate and expected conduct. 2. Officers will attempt to introduce the ride-along participant to every member of the shift so that officers know who is with the officer. Officers should tell central communications they have a participant in case of an emergency. 3. This General Order does not apply to routine transport of persons made during the normal course of official duties. 4. Supervisors reserve the right to restrict the number of ride-along participants any individual officer may take. 5. Probationary employees may not accept ride-along participants until their probation is successfully completed.