10 Tips for Ride-Alongs

As a Criminal Justice major and an aspiring officer, I have been able to do several ride-alongs and this article is outstanding, My first ride-along was with a Lt. of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and before we started the shift the basic rules and guidelines he set forth are outlined in this article. I have had the privalege since to ride with officers I personally know as well as meeting and riding with new officers of various agencies, all of whom have become great personal friends. The best advise I can give for a first time rider is the "follow instructions." If you fail to do so, it could cost you your life or the officer's life.

I had my first ride along with 2 awesome officers at different times of the evening, both were very educational and had the ability to ask and see 2 different points views one being male and female.I had a blast learned so much and motivated me so much that I was like man can't wait to become one. I am in the academy now so far good grades and learning as much as possible.

anyone that tries to go on a ride along and has a warrant out are just plain stupid, good story by the way.

thats pertty coo

Definitely true about wearing layers! I did a Ride Along with a K-9 officer back in December and the windows are open for the dog to breathe! Talk about wicked cold Wisconsin winter! So of course to compensate the officer had his heat blasting! Layers definitely were handy. Hot in the car, freezing outside! Excellent experience overall! The officer was even kind enough to show me some tracking and drug detection work with the dog. He also gave me some excellent points to consider as far as getting into the K-9 field. All the officers we came in contact were really friendly and just a great group of guys. Green Bay PD rocks! :-)

Good Article Mr. Weinblatt

What about izods? I don't typically wear button down the front shirts it makes it hard to get out of a jacket or sweater and I can never get the collar straight also t-shirts make excellent towels I keep one in my bag in case I get junk on my shirt or fall into something very dirty or smelly. Or I need to shower and change my shirt in a hurry. One time I had no towel and I used a t-shirt to dry off. All my button down the front shirts are for church or are formal except for the izods. Am I going to have to tuck my shirt in? I almost never do. It makes a perfect rag for wiping junk off my glasses and makes removal easier if something got on me. Since Iwas a lab tech so I'm used to icky things getting all over me, stuff that might just expode one fine day killing a bunch of people. That's one more thing I'll have to get used to I bet. Remembering to tuck in my shirt and use a shirt sleeve to clean my glasses. Question how do police officers wrestle folks tto the ground on TV and emerge not seeming all that dirty or without braking their shirt or completely destroying their clothing? If it was me I'd have a spare shirt in case somebody puked on me or my shirt caught on fire or the dog peed on me or I spill lunch on it. I was a lab tech a I managed to get junk on myself all the time. Ts are cheaper to replace and there are no buttons that get in the way or fall off. Long sleeves are dangerous when working with mixers, paper making equipment and in places like that so a smart lab tech wears short sleeves and cheap clothing in case they wreck it entirely. I imagine cops have alot of icky things to handle they see even worse than lab techs. Lab techs only have to worry about getting blown up, burned by chemicals, not getting stuck with broken glass, getting stuff all over them and keeping people in the lab safe. Cops have to worry about icky stuff, being blown up, shot, stabbed on top of everything else they have to deal with that is seriously messed up.

It's nice to know the poor officer is as lost by this whole thing as I am. Thanx for telling me that. It helps to know he's just as anxious about this whole thing as I am. I mean the dude has a gun that alone spooks me.