Legal Documents of New Market

Code of New Market

Table of Contents » Title 6 Law Enforcement » Chapter 1 Police And Arrest » § 6-108 Police "Ride Along" program regulated.
Print This Page
PDF
Go to
6
Title 6
6-1
Title 6, Chapter 1
6-101
§ 6-101
New Market
Title 6 : Law Enforcement
Chapter 1 : Police And Arrest

6-108 : Police "Ride Along" program regulated.

  1. Any person desiring to participate in the department's police "Ride Along" program (hereinafter referred to as "participant") must meet the following criteria:
    1. Each participant must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and be an employee of the city;
    2. Each participant must provide a proof of health, medical, and life insurance coverage for any injuries they might receive while participating in the "Ride Along" program;
    3. Each participant must be post certified;
    4. Each participant must complete and sign the department's waiver of liability/hold-harmless agreement;
    5. Each participant must undergo a complete background check and this background check must be documented and retained on file with the department; and
    6. Each participant must read and sign a copy of the ordinance comprising this section and agree to abide by the provisions of this section.
  2. All department personnel and all participants shall comply with the following standards and procedures when participating in the department's "Ride Along" program:
    1. Each participant shall be required to wear seat belts at all times while in the police unit;
    2. No participant shall carry weapons of any kind. Department personnel shall instruct all participants not to carry weapons. This will be confirmed immediately before entering the police unit at each shift;
    3. Each participant shall be kept in the observer position. Each participant must remain in the vehicle, and must not have more than minimal contact with the public. Each participant should not get out of the vehicle on even the most routine of calls;
    4. A documented safety orientation session must be conducted by the department's program coordinator for each participant prior to actually riding in the police unit. The participant must sign that they have attended the orientation and understand the information presented. The curriculum and the signed documentation must be retained on file in the department;
    5. The participants are not allowed to specify with which officer he/she prefers to ride. The shift commander or other supervisor will make that determination. Each participant will be limited in the number of times they may ride to a maximum of two (2) rides per year;
    6. Participants are not allowed to ride during late-night shifts, or "third shift." Participants are not allowed to ride on weekends. The "Ride Along" program is limited to Monday through Friday, first and second shifts (meaning 7:00 A.M. until 11:00 P.M.);
    7. The dispatcher shall be notified which units are being operated with a "Ride Along" participant;
    8. Department units with "Ride Along" participants shall not be given domestic violence or assault calls if other units are available;
    9. Participants shall not assist in any arrests or exercise any force or authority, except that which is lawful for any member of the general public. Any strange or dangerous behavior on the part of the participant (per the opinion and discretion of the officer) will be reported in writing, and the participant will be disallowed from riding in the future;
    10. In critical emergency situations, officers with "Ride Along" participants will respond to the scene, park the vehicle in a place he/she reasonably deems to be safe; and
      1. Insist the participant remain in the vehicle; and
      2. Notify a supervisor so the participant can be removed from the vicinity of the call;
    11. Department officers accompanied by participants will not engage in pursuits of offenders; and
    12. Participants shall not enter private residences, businesses, or other property under any circumstances.
  3. Following any accident or injury to a participant or a member of the general public occurring during the course of participation in the "Ride Along" program, a complete incident report must be filed by the program coordinator (supervisor or chief), and the officer with whom the participant was riding. This documentation should include:
    1. The date of accident/injury;
    2. The time of day;
    3. The injured person's name, address, and phone number(s);
    4. The name of the injured person's parent or guardian, if a minor child;
    5. The names of phone number(s) of any witnesses; and
    6. A complete description of the events and circumstances surrounding the accident or injury. For the purposes of this section, "injury" means bodily injury and/or property damage. These incident reports should be retained on file with the department.
  4. The mayor, board of aldermen and mayor, and/or the chief of the department shall have the discretion to refuse any person participation in the "Ride Along" program and shall also have the discretion to terminate any person's participation in said program. (Ord. #10-2-8, April 2010)