Ride-Along Program InformationThe Red County Sheriff's Department ride-along program provides an opportunity for professional staff and citizens to experience field-level law enforcement first hand. Below you may find the procedures, rules and requirements of the ride-along program.
Civilian Procedure
Generally, the ride-along request will be processed and scheduled by filing out an electronic application form and submitting the relevant waivers to the division in which the participant desires to ride along. The ride-along policy and waiver must be read and understood by all non-department members. Signing and submitting the application/waver authorizes the Red County Sheriff's Department to conduct a criminal records check for non-employee ride-along applicants.
Information requested will include a valid government-issued identification, address, telephone number, and emergency contact information. If the participant is under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must agree to the ride-along process and sign all relevant forms.
The participant will be scheduled for a ride-along, based on availability, within approximately one week from the date of application. Once an approved ride-along request is received, the receiving Watch Commander or other Department member in a relevant position will make arrangements for the ride-along and notify the applicant by telephone or e-mail (( Discord DM/Forum PM )) of the ride-along date. (( Due to in-game constraints, it might often not be possible to schedule an exact time and date of a ride-along. In such cases, the ride-along participant may call 911's non-emergency hotline and request to do their ride-along at that particular time. It is not guaranteed that a Deputy will be able to accommodate to the participant's needs. ))
If the ride-along is denied, a representative of the Sheriff's Department will contact the applicant and advise him or her of the denial.
Approval will be granted on a one-time individual basis. For each additional ride-along, a new application will need to be submitted and approved, as described above.
Ride-Along Program Rules & Requirements
- Any person approved to ride-along is required to be suitably dressed. The Watch Commander or field supervisor may refuse a ride-along to anyone not properly dressed.
- Cameras, video, audio recorders, and/or other recording devices are not allowed during a ride-along. Cellular phones are permitted, but the video/audio recording feature is not to be utilized.
- Persons having a dating or close relationship with any Deputy shall not be allowed to ride-along with the involved Deputy.
- Participants riding along in an official capacity may wear the approved uniform for their assigned job classification.
- Unless authorized to do so, participants shall not review any official report or record of the Red County Sheriff's Department.
- A ride-along participant may be exposed to privileged and/or confidential information. To participate in the ride-along program, the participant must agree to treat all matters they witness as confidential and not divulge any information other than to a properly authorized county, state and/or federal employee.
- Ride-alongs with units other than uniform-patrol are not normally permitted, e.g. gang units, investigations units etc. Exceptions to this rule may be made on a case by case basis and only by express written permission from the Division Commander.
- Uniform-patrol includes, but may not be limited to: Street level patrol, harbor patrol, and the air support bureau.
- The ride-along participant shall not interfere or obstruct a Deputy in the performance of his or her duties. If deemed necessary, the Deputy may at any time terminate the ride and return the participant to the station as soon as practicable.