NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT
6.4.1 Civilian Ride-Along Program
A. Purpose
Directive 6.4 – Community Relations
It is the purpose of the Ride-Along Program to provide interested resident and/or citizens
an opportunity to observe daily operations of the Department.
B. Qualifications
All citizens who agree to sign a liability release and are approved by a Department
supervisor are permitted to participate. Any individual who is under the age of eighteen
must have his/her parent or guardian appear at the Police Department to sign the Liability
Release form (PD-03-115) (Addendum C). It is highly discouraged that anyone under the
age of 16 be permitted to participate in the Ride-Along Program.
As a rule, citizens are not permitted to participate in the Ride-Along Program more than
twice in a calendar year. Exceptions can be made for citizens who are participating in the
Ride-Along Program as part of a school project or Citizen Police Academy, members of
the media, and government officials. Exceptions must be approved prior to the actual
ride-along by a Department supervisor.
C. Supervisor Approval
A supervisor must approve all citizen requests to participate in the Ride-Along Program.
Approval may be denied based upon the citizen’s prior criminal record, prior problems the
department may have had with the citizen, inappropriate dress, or other just cause as
determined by the supervisor.
Citizens participating in the Ride-Along Program must dress appropriately. A citizen is not
permitted to wear clothing or head wear that may falsely lead others to believe that he/she
is a law enforcement officer.
D. Officer’s Responsibilities
As outlined in the Liability Release Form, citizens choosing to participate in the Ride-
Along Program accept the inherent danger in riding along with a Police Officer. Officers
who have a citizen riding with them should consider the citizen’s safety in the performance
of their duties. For example, officers should avoid being involved in high-speed pursuits
and should not permit citizens to exit the cruiser in situations that could threaten the
officer’s or citizen’s safety.
E. The New Albany Police Department recognizes the importance of a cooperative
relationship with the media and permits media representative to participate in its Ride-
Along Program. However, both officers and media representatives should be aware that
pursuant to a Supreme Court decision, media representatives are not permitted onto
private property while participating in the Ride-Along Program without first obtaining the
expressed consent of the private property owner. Officers shall ensure that media
representatives do not violate this directive.
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