I was curious as to how many fellow LCPDFR's are involved with ridealongs with their local departments? I'd love to hear some stories!

The first traffic stop I was on was for a white sedan with expired tags. The car was hesitant to pull over at first, and ended up pulling over at a gas station nearby. While the police officer was busy getting his hat and whatever other gear he had ready, I was watching the driver and passenger. I saw the passenger moving around a lot, and I commented on it to the officer. He said the passenger was probably just looking for his I.D. My response was "He's looking for his I.D. in the female drivers purse?" He quickly jumped out of the car and ran up to the drivers side window. lol He came back to the cruiser telling me he smelled a heavy odor or perfume, and suggested they're probably trying to hide the odor of drugs in the car. He decided to let them go and that was it. The next traffic stop later that day was a girl who was flying down a side street. The officer surprised me by hitting the brakes as hard as he could, then flipping a U-turn quickly. After getting the car stopped, it turns out it was a young girl on her way to pick up her sister from prom. The police officer decided not to give her a ticket and let her go with a warning. Earlier in the day, we were sitting in an abandoned parking lot next to a family restaurant looking for traffic violators. On the restaurant lawn were a group of little kids. They looked up at the cruiser, then at me and waved. I waved back. That's a good feeling, let me tell you.

Edited July 9, 201313 yr by unr3al

 He came back to the cruiser telling me he smelled a heavy odor or perfume, and suggested they're probably trying to hide the odor of drugs in the car. He decided to let them go and that was it. 

 

Did the cop not want to bother searching the two he thought were probably trying to cover up the smell of drugs?  I find it odd he'd say that, then let the two go.  I figured cops were gung-ho to do that kind of thing.

 

Anyhow, good stories.

 

DrDetroit

Did one while I was in college...he pulled over a guy who was swerving all over the road trying to pull a condom off his unit b/c he had just dropped off a hooker...the cop didn't have the heart to give him a ticket (that and he was laughing too hard)

Did the cop not want to bother searching the two he thought were probably trying to cover up the smell of drugs?  I find it odd he'd say that, then let the two go.  I figured cops were gung-ho to do that kind of thing.

 

Anyhow, good stories.

 

DrDetroit

They were young kids (late teens early 20's), and although that town had a relatively low crime rate as far as assaults and property theft is concerned, it had a huge drug problem (mostly marijuana) revolving around the high school in the years following my graduation. It may still, I'm not sure since I moved to another state. That's a "lightweight" drug though by law enforcement standards, some surrounding towns had worse problems with drugs like heroin or meth. A lot of heavily wooded places or mid western places seem to have a saturation meth and alcohol problems, and I'm not sure why that is. Nothing to do? I dunno. A huge majority of COPS episodes that feature meth users or rolling labs are based out of Washington, Minnesota, Oregon, Michigan or North Dakota as an example. Beautiful landscapes, a ton of backwoods and big time drug areas in all of those states.

Edited July 9, 201313 yr by unr3al

I have been on about 5 or 6 ride alongs in the past few years. Loved every minute of them all. My first ride along is still to this day the most active one I have been on. Had a vehicle pursuit (very short one), suicide and a foot pursuit in one night. The suicide call was a bit of an eye opener especially being my first ride along. Scene wasn't gruesome or anything but it still kind of hits you a little hard to see something like that. Foot pursuit was short lived. K-9 happened to be right around the corner and the dog didn't let the suspect get very far.

I'm assuming you sat in the car for all three? (You had no choice for #1, I know.)

Well on my first few ride a longs it was just some traffic stops and a few accidents. But I had a few that were pretty awesome. On my first 8 hour ride a long we had 3 major calls. There were 2 older peopl (wife and husband) that fell and were laying on the ground for about 2 days. Due to there condition neither one of them could get up. So we got the call went lights and sirens and helped out. EMTS arrived and took them to the hospital. Then about 15 minutes after that we get a call about a weapons complaint, so I had to stay in the car on this one 3 officers arrive and they surround the house with guns drawn. They take the man out at gun point (this guy was basically on his death bed) turns out his son lied about him chasing him with a gun saying he is going to kill him. We ended talking to the son (who is 34 working as a bust boy at restaurant) . Then after about 3 or 4 hours we got a call about a drug complaint.  This dumb ass was smoking weed in his hotel room with the windows closed. We ended up forcing our way into his room and we arrested him. That was the end of that night. Oh also at the jail a drunk women at the jail pissed on a officers leg well they were trying to put her into a jail cell.

 

Then a few ride a longs went by and at this point it was sometime late January, me an the officer were driving around when I noticed a pretty suspicious looking vehicle, we were trying to move over to get behind it but some jack ass in a mini van wouldnt let us move over by the time we had a free spot the road split into 2 and we went one direction and the car went the other.   But that wasn't the end of it, she ran the plates and they came back suspended, she knew a way to get to that other road, once the light turned green at the stop light we were at she hit the lights and we went flying down the road (at about 80MPH). We ended up getting behind the vehicle but it went out of are area then once we turned around it came back wanted. We were so bumed out lol. But we got something in return...

 

 

A few hours later at about 5;00 PM (the peak of rush hour) we get called for assistance to help out the Sheriffs department with a high risk traffic stop on the freeway. We ended going lights and siren and we were the 3rd or 4th vehicle on the traffic stop. She got the AR-15 out and helped out the sheriffs department (for those wondering the guy in the car pointed a loaded hand gun at some kids and their mother well driving down the free way). Before they started getting the people out of the car we waited for a few more units. They blocked our side of the free way. It was pretty cool seen the state troopers and other units racing down the freeway to assist us, and yes I had to stay in the car on this one.

 

Also one last one. On my last ride a long with a officer I respect very much we get called for a disorderly minor fighting with her parents. We arrive (had to stay in the car on ths one even though the officer really wanted me to come inside to see how the family treats this poor kid) The parents ended up not taking custody of her so we had to take her to Juvenal shelter (another name for a prison for minors). We think how ever that her father sexily assaulted her  (she is 14) she hates men and won't talk to men at all also she hates her father.

 

 

Edited July 9, 201313 yr by Darkangel

That last one's pretty rough dude. Situations involving crimes against a kid really get me upset. It can scar them for life, just like you were saying. She hates men of all sorts, and she hasn't even reached adulthood yet to make an educated decision.

That last one's pretty rough dude. Situations involving crimes against a kid really get me upset. It can scar them for life, just like you were saying. She hates men of all sorts, and she hasn't even reached adulthood yet to make an educated decision.

 

It nearly brought a tear to my eye, because she is really smart and has a great future but because of what happened most of that got thrown out the window... Worst thing is we can't do anything about it because she won't tell anyone what happened. So her father will get off free... Actually teared up writing this, doesn't help when i'm listening to HURT by johnny cash either. But I think because of what I saw, i'm going to volunteer as a big brother for those kind of kids who has had there child hood ruined. Things that ruin your day or week is nothing compared to what most of those kids went through in that big brother/ sister program. A lot of them seen abuse, sexually assault. In Milwaukee many of them seen there parents killed right in front of them... Really makes me sad to even think about what those kids go through, i'm actually tearing up right now. Damn onions 

Edited July 9, 201313 yr by Darkangel

I wish we had ridealongs here in Ontario but we can't have them because there was a high speed chase on the highway and the officer had a ridealong with him. Basically the chase ended in a very large crash and the person on the ridealong died and the officer had bad brain damage. 

That's a shame. You do sign a waiver saying that your family can't use if you die during the ride along. But I know a couple of police departments near me have stopped giving them due to bad press or the dangers involved.

I've always wanted to do a ride along but I have never gotten the chance. To anyone who has been on a ride along, what are the requirements? I know they will do a brief background check which I'm not worried about. I've also heard that some police departments wont give anyone a ride-along unless they are in the process of becoming a police officer. Also, do you have to wear anything specific or do they lend you anything? And is it free? 

I'm assuming you sat in the car for all three? (You had no choice for #1, I know.)

Nope. The Officer told me I could get out of the car whenever I wanted except on traffic stops. So I was out on all of them..of course except the pursuit haha

I've always wanted to do a ride along but I have never gotten the chance. To anyone who has been on a ride along, what are the requirements? I know they will do a brief background check which I'm not worried about. I've also heard that some police departments wont give anyone a ride-along unless they are in the process of becoming a police officer. Also, do you have to wear anything specific or do they lend you anything? And is it free? 

Usually 18+ unless you're in an explorers program, they'll do a background check, it will depend on the department on if they're generous enough to give non-recruits ride alongs, and you should wear semi-formal attire. No t-shirts, no jeans with holes in them, clean shoes. It's free, but so is a bullet to the chest. Just remember you take your chances sitting in that car, you have to sign a waiver saying so. They don't give you any protection. No gun, no kevlar vest. Your only way of helping in case things go south is the radio inside the car.

Either of those two outfits would be examples of acceptable clothing for your ride along. The one on the right would make you look like a detective without the badge. lol I wore attire closer to the guy on the left. I had brand new jeans, a belt without studs in it, (which is the type I wear casually), a nicely pressed button shirt with short sleeves, and clean, bright white sneakers. Sort of a preppy look. This is advice I got from a Field Training Officer, so I'd use that as a guideline.

Edited July 10, 201313 yr by unr3al

One ride along i did went in in the morning everything was normal, then we received a 9-1-1 in s to a stolen vehicle Black Chrysler 300,vehicle was stolen from a gas station after the RO filled it up. Suspected car thief was a young male early to mid 20's. we then went about for a few hours to see if we could find the vehicle, no dice. Later that day me and the Cpl. i was riding with stopped back at the detachment to pick some stuff up. While he was getting his stuff i stopped to check out the CCTV cameras we have around town i then saw a Black Chrysler 300 make a right turn into town. we then left the detachment and started to canvas the area, when a fellow officer in an unmarked impala called out that he had stopped the vehicle near the local kia dealership. the vehicle was occupied x4, 3 male subjects and one female. Now on scene all 5 officers, a second ride along and myself approached the vehicle got all the info and ran the names all subjects came back 10-60 negative CNI. we proceeded to detain the driver under charges of auto theft. After all subjects were detained and searched we proceeded to search the vehicle as well  as the bags of the occupants where we found roughly 6 grams of marijuana, some cocaine along side some paraphernalia. The vehicle was released to the RO later that day. The RO was still finding drugs stashed in various places in the vehicle.

 

I was 16 at the time

I was provided an Kevlar vest

I was not in a explorer program

and i was allowed to exit the vehicle for any call, traffic stop or so on (at the discretion of the Officer i was with, very little gun calls)

Did the cop not want to bother searching the two he thought were probably trying to cover up the smell of drugs?  I find it odd he'd say that, then let the two go.  I figured cops were gung-ho to do that kind of thing.

 

Anyhow, good stories.

 

DrDetroit

the smell of perfume isn't probable cause to search the vehicle.

Edited July 10, 201313 yr by bonehead

Been on 5-6 of them with different departments, police and sheriff. The most recent I saw my first DUI arrests, two of them in one night actually. First one was a stop that had started the previous night prior to my ridealong, he showed me the dashcam tape of the original incident. The deputy I was with clocked a guy speeding on a motorcylcle the previous night of my ridealong, he whipped around but wanted to wait for a better place to stop him due to there being a large bonfire party in the area. When they got close to the party he realized the guy was turning into the party, he hit his lights quick and the guy pulled into the driveway. There was a truck in the driveway stopped talking to a guy outside the truck. The motorcycle drove around the truck in a tight space but the cruiser couldn't fit through. By the time the truck was moved the guy had already jumped off the bike and took off into the woods, they couldn't find him. (In Wisconsin we have whats called "owners liability" which means that the owner would be responsible for the fleeing since he didn't report the bike as stolen or anything like that. Even though your not in possession, your still responsible.) Now, for the night of my ridealong my deputy wanted to go to the guys house to talk to him and give him these owners liability tickets, he wasn't at his home but he has a business close by. We go there, his truck is there and the rear garage door to the business is open but no one is around. We thought it sort of strange that someone would leave the door open with all the equipment in there unless they were close by. So we went down the street a ways to a parking lot where we were lucky enough to be able to see the front of the business and his truck. So if someone walked past or drove out we would be able to see. (Keep in mind there are 2 bars in the general area). We sat for about a half hour and someone walks past the business. So we pull into the street just in case its him, so he doesn't see us if he pulls out. I can just see the driveway from the passenger seat and all the sudden he pulls out in his truck. At this point the adrenaline is starting to surge because I know whats about to happen and the fact that he just came from a bar. He drives past us (were in a unmarked unit, CVPI, silver hubcaps rims, civilian plates) and doesn't have a seat belt on, perfect. We whip around, tires squealing and light him up. He pulls over, deputy makes initial contact, comes back and the guys said he had about 4-5 beers I think. We had a parking lot right next to us, so we pulled in there with our cruiser after 2 more backup units pulled up (A supervisor and a local police unit for the city we were in). They did all the sobriety tests in the parking lot, I was standing off to the side and could see he was failing the eye tests. So eventually he blew, over the limit, hooked him up, in the back of the car and off to the hospital for a blood test. Later on had a domestic, mother wanted to leave, daughter/husband wouldn't let her. Mother has a mental disorder. We run code 3 to get there, now for those of you who have run code 3 you know that nothing in the world can beat the feeling of running code 3. Its amazing.... Anyway, the deputy had been there in the past and was able to resolve the issue with no problems. 

I've been on a good 50-60 ridealongs with various departments but some of the outstanding calls i remember would have to be the following.

 

the city i usually ridealong with is broken into the north and south end, on this particular night i was with a north end officer and we were clearing a loud party/noise complaint call when the south end received a shots fired call and they were requesting assistance from us. So myself and several other officers booked it south to the call, this was a great thrill! As we were ariving on scene the suspected vehicle with 2 suspects was located and not pulling over, finally the vehicle came to a stop and a high risk stop was in effect, there were lights going officers with guns drawn K9's barking etc. after the suspects were in custody myself and the other officer returned to the scene, fire rescue was just clearing with the victim. We then began blocking the scene off and marking evidence such as shell casings. There was a huge pool of blood by the front of the car where the victim was shot at. Luckily the guy lived, the gun was located in someones front yard a few blocks away.

 

Another call i remember was someone got robbed at gunpoint, The BOL was put out for a suspect vehicle/description but we went to the scene to speak with the victim. Turns out a chevy impala with a 12 inch red Led stick in the dash pulled the victim over, the suspect then approached the driver ordering him out of the vehicle at gunpoint he then asked for his wallet, car keys, and cell phone and told him to start walking. The suspect even had a chain on with something to resemble a police badge. The victims stuff was recovered and the suspect was caught the next day.

 

This last one was a police chase we were in. Myself and the officer i was with were working the downtown bar area when a call for someones vehicle stolen out of their driveway came in. So we hopped in our cruiser and waited nearby to see if the car would come southbound towards us. While some officers were responding to the scene they spotted the vehicle matching the description. When they got behind him and lit him up he did not stop and took off. We hit our lights and sirens and flew to assist. The guys speed was increasing and he continued to flee, he blew through several traffic control signals and he was just about to cross the county line when he was doing 70mph+ around a tight curve, he did not make the curve, he went up on the grass went in the air a good 20+ feet cork screwed it like in the dukes of hazard and rolled it right into a ditch nearly hitting a huge tree. At that point in time he attempted to get out and run on foot, he got about 10 feet before he was tazed and tackled. Only one prong from the tazer actually struck him so he didnt get the full affect. He was extremely intoxicated and realized what he did right then and there he even admitted to us that he did it because he was walking down the street and saw the keys were in it so it was his first pick. Keep in mind the vehicle was a 1988 GMC van, no clue as to why you would steal that and think you would get away from the police with that, it was obviously totalled after this. We had multiple agencies including the township and the county assist us. The driver was transported by EMS to the hospital and we gave the ambulance an escort and we had to stay with the guy all night until day shift came to relieve us, which sucked but it was all still fun.

 

Those are some of my stories I have many more if you guys wanna hear.

I just love this topic.

Love hearing all the stories of stops, calls, etc.

Unfortunately, I've nothing to contribute, since I'm an expat here & most of the policemen are arrogant towards us & suck.

Edited July 10, 201313 yr by Rocking_Star101

Wow, interesting stuff.  Great strories fellas'.

 

Good day,

 

DrDetroit