To apply for a police ride-along, contact the law enforcement agency that patrols the area you want to observe, request their ride-along application, submit it along with a signed liability waiver, and pass a criminal background check. Most departments ask for the paperwork anywhere from five business days to 30 days before your preferred date, and approval usually takes one to three weeks.
Where to Apply
Start with the agency that patrols where you live or want to observe. Municipal police departments, county sheriff’s offices, university police, and state natural resources police often run ride-along programs. Check the agency’s website for a “community programs” or “ride-along” page, or call the non-emergency line and ask for community affairs or the public information officer.
Not every agency advertises the program prominently, so a missing web page doesn’t mean the program doesn’t exist. If you want a specific assignment such as patrol, traffic, or K-9, ask when you call. Many departments let you request a division or shift, though they can’t always guarantee it.
Who Qualifies
Most agencies require applicants to be at least 18, and some set the minimum at 21. A few allow participants as young as 14 with written parental consent, restricted hours, and additional paperwork. Anyone under 18 should expect a parent or legal guardian to co-sign every form.
Every agency runs a criminal background check. A felony conviction, outstanding warrants, or pending criminal charges will almost certainly disqualify you. Recent misdemeanors or a pattern of arrests can also lead to denial, though many departments give a commanding officer discretion to review these individually. If you have an active lawsuit against the department, or you’re currently under investigation by any law enforcement agency, you won’t be approved.
You’ll need valid government-issued identification, typically a driver’s license or state ID. Some departments only accept residents of their jurisdiction. Others take applicants from outside the area, particularly students, journalists, and people considering a career in law enforcement.
The Application Steps
- Get the application. Download it from the department’s website, request it by email, or pick it up at the station. The form asks for name, date of birth, address, ID number, and your reason for requesting the ride-along.
- Submit it early. Some agencies want the form at least five business days before your preferred date. Others require 30 days or more. The background check and scheduling take time.
- Sign the liability waiver. Every agency requires a signed release acknowledging the risks of riding in a patrol car and agreeing not to hold the department responsible for injuries. A few departments require the waiver to be notarized, so ask before you show up with an unsigned form.
- Wait for approval. The department will contact you when you’re cleared and confirm the date, time, and meeting location. Approval typically takes one to three weeks.
Most agencies limit ride-alongs to once or twice per calendar year per person. If you’re hoping to go more often, ask about frequency when you apply.
How to Dress
Dress codes are stricter than most people expect. The standard is business casual: collared shirt, slacks or khakis, and closed-toe shoes. Agencies commonly prohibit jeans of any color, shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, sandals, open-toed shoes, and high heels. Clothing with political slogans, offensive graphics, or logos is also off-limits, and some departments ban hats.
The watch commander or shift sergeant on duty can turn you away if your clothing doesn’t meet the standard, even after your application has been approved. Err on the side of dressing more conservatively than you think necessary. For a night shift in cooler weather, layer up, since you’ll spend long stretches sitting in the car.
Rules You Have to Follow
Follow every instruction the officer gives you, immediately and without argument. Stay in the vehicle unless told to get out. Don’t touch police equipment, including the radio, the computer terminal, and anything in the back seat. Don’t interact with suspects, witnesses, or victims unless the officer specifically invites you to.
If a dangerous situation develops, such as a pursuit or a violent call, the officer may drop you at a safe, well-lit location and have another unit pick you up. That’s standard protocol. Departments don’t issue body armor or protective equipment to civilian observers.
You cannot bring any weapon, including a personal firearm, even with a valid concealed carry permit. This rule is nearly universal and applies regardless of your state’s gun laws. The typical exception is for active law enforcement officers from other agencies riding along as a professional courtesy.
Cameras, Phones, and Confidentiality
Most departments prohibit cameras, cell phone cameras, and audio recording during ride-alongs unless you get written approval beforehand. The rule exists because of privacy concerns for victims, witnesses, and suspects. Journalism students and reporters hoping to document the experience should contact the public information officer well in advance.
You’ll sign a confidentiality agreement as part of the application. What you witness stays with you: investigation details, the identities of victims and suspects, arrest records, and anything you see on the officer’s computer or hear over the radio. Sharing any of it publicly, including on social media, violates the agreement and can carry legal consequences.
One exception matters. If you witness a crime or a use-of-force incident, you can be subpoenaed to testify about what you saw. A confidentiality agreement doesn’t override a court’s subpoena power. It’s rare, but anything you observe could become part of a legal proceeding.
What the Shift Itself Looks Like
Ride-alongs typically run four to ten hours. Some agencies default to a half-shift of about five hours; others let you stay for a full shift. You can usually leave early, but stepping away in the middle of an active call isn’t practical, so plan for the full time.
You’ll ride in the front passenger seat of a marked patrol car with a uniformed officer. What you see depends entirely on what happens during the shift, and the officer has no control over the calls that come in.
One legal boundary shapes what you’ll see indoors. In Wilson v. Layne, the Supreme Court held that bringing civilian observers into a private home during a warrant execution can violate the Fourth Amendment, even when police have a valid warrant to enter. In practice, officers will keep you in the vehicle during entries into private residences. You’re there to observe the patrol, not to participate in searches or arrests.