Ride Along with Raytown Police Department

This citizen's police academy, like many, includes a ride along if the participant chooses to do so. Everything we participate in is voluntary. You can choose to do the ride along or you can pass. Why anyone would pass on an opportunity to do a ride along if attending the academy is beyond me though. If you chose to attend the citizen's academy that generally means you have some interest in law enforcement whether it be a future career, wanting to know more about law enforcement involvement in your community, or in my case - work requested I do a ride along (because I do stress tests on police officers/sheriffs deputies/state troopers/etc) plus I have a general curiosity from having friends who are police officers and/or sheriff's deputies. If you have an opportunity to do a ride along I would recommend doing it. It's your best opportunity to see first hand what an officer does on a day to day basis and ask questions! 

Some people fear safety is a concern. Sure, safety is a concern. There are no guarantees in life. Being a law enforcement officer is a dangerous job and you take on a certain level of risk when you sign up to do a ride along with an officer but I can say I have always felt safe on a ride along and won't hesitate to do another one when the opportunity comes up.

Every ride along starts with instructions from the officer regarding what you can and can't do. You have plenty of opportunity to ask questions as needed.

I have completed one ride along with Raytown Police Department.  (You can do a ride along with RPD even if you are not attending their citizen's academy. Click here for the form.)  I won't post anything specific about my ride along (it was pretty quiet) other than to say... the patrol car survived (ie., no fire this time like one of my ride alongs with a different department ended), I didn't learn what the back seat of the car feels like nor experience the view and I have yet to wear these:

I would call that a successful ride along!  :)  Thank you Raytown PD for providing the opportunity! 

Don't have time to attend a Citizens Academy? How about a Ride-Along?

Don't have time to attend a Citizen's Academy but you would like to learn a little bit more about what law enforcement officers do?  Why not do a "Ride-Along" with a law enforcement officer?  A Ride-Along enables the general public to observe first hand what officers encounter during a normal tour of duty. 

Many agencies nationwide allow citizens to do a Ride-Along with an officer or deputy.  Here is a list of agencies in the KC metro area that have a Ride-Along program:

City of Grandview Police Department offers Ride-Alongs for citizens.  You can fill out an application at the station.  To learn more click here.

Kansas City Kansas Police Department encourages citizens to do a Ride-Along.  To fill out an application click here. 

Kansas City Missouri Police Department encourages citizens to do a Ride-Along. To fill out an application visit any patrol station.  To learn more click here.   

Lenexa Police Department offers Ride-Alongs to residents.  According to their web page Ride-Alongs are not to exceed 4 hours and are not scheduled on weekends.  To learn more click here.

City of Raymore (MO) offers citizens a Ride-Along program.  Ride-Alongs will not last longer than 4 hours and citizens are limited to 4 tours per year. To learn more click here.

Raytown Police Police Department encourages citizens to do a Ride-Along.  A Ride-Along is also offered to citizens who complete the Citizens Academy.  To learn more click here.  To fill out an application click here.

Shawnee Police Department offers a Civilian Observer program for residents which includes a Ride-Along with an officer.  Non-residents enrolled in an accredited Criminal Justice Intern program may also participate.  To learn more click here.

Spring Hill (KS) Police Department offers Ride-Alongs to citizens.  To learn more click here.


Some agencies only allow citizens to do a Ride-Along if they participate in the Citizens Academy (Adults) or Explorers Program (Youth).  Those agencies include:

Cass County Sheriff's Office - Citizens Academy
City of Independence (MO) - Citizens Academy
Johnson County (KS) Sheriff's Office - Citizens Academy
Olathe Police Department - Citizens Academy
Overland Park Police Department - Explorers Program
Parkville Police Department - Explorers Program
Prairie Village Police Department - Citizens Academy


If any of the above information is incorrect or you would like to update or add an agency that provides a Ride-Along program please feel free to let me know either via email or by leaving a comment.  Thanks!


Oh and if you do decide to do a Ride-Along, don't catch the patrol car on fire. They frown upon that...

 

Many agencies utilize the services of volunteers.  Since this blog is not only about Citizens Academys' but also about volunteering, I will do an entry soon about volunteering with law enforcement and what agencies have volunteer opportunities for citizens.