Santa Cruz Police Department Offers Ride-Along Program

SANTA CRUZ, CA – The Santa Cruz Police Department releases information about its SCPD Ride Along Program:

Ever wonder what it's like to be a police officer? Interested in learning more about public safety in the City of Santa Cruz? We encourage interested citizens to ride along with an SCPD Officer.

Take the opportunity to observe the Santa Cruz Police Department at work first-hand. The "Ride-Along" program will allow you to hear and see exactly how situations are handled and to give you better insight to evaluate the quality of your police department personnel.

• Through active citizen participation, the SCPD's goal of better communications between the community and police officers can be achieved.
• We hope that your experience will help you share any new information and ideas with your neighbors and friends.
• The SCPD appreciates your interest in the "Ride-Along" Program and encourages your participation as a "Ride-Along" participant.

Participant's Conduct:
Participants must remain in the immediate vicinity of the patrol vehicle and must not accompany an officer outside of that area unless specifically directed by the officer. Participants must not touch or attempt to operate equipment or use any communication equipment without explicit authorization from the officer. No audio or video recording or photography is allowed during the ride-along.
Participants might observe occurrences or activities during the ride-along which may require them to submit a written statement and/or testify in court at a later time.

Dress Code:
Participants must be appropriately attired and groomed. Business casual would be a good guideline but jeans are allowed. Approval to ride along may be denied if the participant is not properly dressed or has been drinking. Firearms or other weapons are not permitted.

Accident Waiver:
Each participant will be advised, in writing, that there is some degree of risk involved by reason of the nature of law enforcement activity. The participant assumes any and all risks to which he or she may be exposed during the ride-along.

Ride Along Schedule
Ride-along participants may be scheduled on one of the following shifts:
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
10 p.m. - 8 a.m. (minimum age for this shift is 18)
Minimum participant age is 14. Participants are limited to one ride per year. A typical ride-along with an officer is two hours.

To schedule a ride-along with an officer, send email request, or to print out form for mailing, click here.

Also see: Man Arrested For Alleged Vandalism, Break-In At Library

--Image via SCPD