Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure Ride-Along Program		Effective Date: 09/12/2022
	Policy Number: PP-9122 - Ride-Along Program

1. Persons eligible for the Ride-Along program include the following: 

a. Applicants for employment with the police department.

b. A military member considering a career in law enforcement.

c. College or university students considering law enforcement as a career, are engaged in research or who are completing project requirements.

d. Police officials from other jurisdictions.

e. Members or applicants of Jeffcom911.

f. Adults who work, live, or go to school in Lakewood.

g. Members of the news media.

h. Police Explorers / Cadets.

i. Any adult or juvenile (16 years of age and over) approved by a Commander.

2. The final decision to allow any individual to ride shall lie with the commander of the watch on which the ride is tentatively scheduled.

3. All requests to participate in the Ride-Along program, excluding those approved personally by a Commander on short notice, shall be referred to the Patrol Division Business Specialist. 

4. The Business Specialist shall screen requests to participate and assign a date and time span for any approved ride-along.  Screening consists of a check of Lakewood Police Department criminal records and a CCIC/NCIC check.  If the applicant is found to have any concerning prior criminal contacts as a suspect or an arrestee, a Commander may be notified to decide whether the applicant is eligible to ride. 

5. The Business Specialist will keep a schedule of upcoming ride-alongs in the roll call room. Unless authorized by a Commander, only one ride-along is permitted per sector, per watch, for a total of three per watch. Ride-alongs begin at 0545, 1115, 1515 and 2115 to align with the current patrol schedule and are up to four hours in length. Special circumstances may dictate start times different than the patrol schedule.

6. At the time scheduled for the ride, the participant will report to the desk agent who shall then notify an on-duty supervisor. Supervisors shall assign an agent as host for the participant.  Assigned personnel shall notify Jeffcom911 that a ride-along will be with them. All participants must have a valid photo ID to verify their identity and have completed their promise to release form prior to starting the ride-along.

7. If any substantial delay is anticipated in assigning the agent, the ride participant shall be so informed.  Every effort shall be made to avoid such a delay and the participant should begin his ride as near as possible to the time he was scheduled to report. 

C. Rule

1. Participation shall be limited to persons 16 years of age or older.

2. Participants must be in good general health with no physical or mental disabilities that may be aggravated or would hinder the participant’s ability to comprehend or follow verbal instructions.  Participants must have no need of physical assistance and must be able to understand commands and immediately respond in all circumstances including emergency situations such as quickly exiting the vehicle, running, or lying flat on the ground without compromising police agents and/or the public safety or the police department’s law enforcement mission.  

3. Participants shall not normally be allowed to ride more frequently than once every six months nor longer than four hours at one time. Police agent applicants, college students and military members considering a career in law enforcement are permitted up to four ride-along opportunities per calendar year.

4. All participants, except those who are employed by the Lakewood Police Department shall, prior to riding, complete a covenant not to sue, promise to release form online at www.JoinLakewoodBlue.com or request a paper or PDF copy.  If the participant is under the age of 18, the parent or guardian must request a paper copy and fill out the parent/guardian consent section. 

5. Record copies of the completed application and release forms will be maintained by the Business Specialist for five years. 

6. The participant is not permitted to use photo, video or audio recording functions on their smart devices, phones or cameras nor post about police activities on social media unless previously authorized by a commander.

7. Unless the participant is a currently certified peace officer within the State of Colorado, he/she is not permitted to carry any weapons during the ride-along. If the participant is a current peace officer from out-of-state, it is up to a commander’s discretion to determine if the ride-along will be permitted to carry a weapon during the ride-along.

8. The participant shall not be assigned to ride with a police agent who is a relative or someone with a close personal relationship.