Ride-Along Program

 

Law enforcement is a unique and valuable service to the community, and the Ride-Along Program helps educate citizens about the daily challenges and risks, as well as the opportunities for service that come with police work. Allowing citizens to ride along with police officers helps them learn more about law enforcement, but perhaps even more importantly, they can understand how complex the officer's job really is. The Newport Police Department encourages citizens to apply for ride-alongs, and to understand the rules and responsibilities necessary for observing a police officer at work.

Please note the following from the NPD Ride-Along Policy:

To further promote positive citizen contacts, the Department provides a Ride-Along Program. The Department reserves the right to coordinate and schedule ride-alongs as conditions allow. There are inherent risks involved with participation in the Ride-Along Program. The applicants must be mentally and physically able to respond to immediate dangers and critical situations. In addition, the mission and safety of the officer shall not be compromised during this activity.

A Ride-Along participant will meet the following requirements:

All ride-alongs shall be free of any recent major or habitual violations of the law, including drug usage or other activities or associations that would be considered contrary to law enforcement ethics or compromise law enforcement operations. Ride-along times are scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

All ride-alongs must be 18 years of age or older, unless a written petition for exception is approved by the Chief of Police or his designee.

All ride-alongs must be able to effectively communicate with officers, dispatch, and other law enforcement personnel to understand dispatch or officer instructions and to use the radio to summon assistance in an emergency situation.

Individuals with medical conditions that may manifest themselves or possibly be affected by a ride-along will be required to submit written consent from a medical doctor. This requirement is intended to ensure that all participants are able to adequately assist in emergency situations by performing needed functions, such as quickly exiting the vehicle, running, laying flat on the ground, and using the patrol vehicle radio without compromising the safety or law enforcement mission of the officer.

Any individual known to be under the influence of alcohol or medications that may impair judgment or safety shall not be accepted for a ride-along.

Attire for Ride-Along participants:

The ride-along participant shall wear a nametag, identifying him/her as a Newport Police Department ride-along participant. All ride-alongs shall wear appropriate attire, which may include:

• Clean jeans, shorts, or denim outfits without visible rips, tears, holes or patches
• Polo shirts (including logo-embroidered shirts), banded collar shirts and other buttoned collar shirts
• Blouses or sweaters
• T-shirt or sweatshirts (clean, neat, without offensive or inappropriate logos, verbiage or images)
• Casual shoes

Inappropriate clothing may include:

• Faded, worn, white/acid washed, torn, patched or mended items
• Off-the-shoulder tops, bare midriff tops, low-cut blouses/dresses, or tight fitting items
• Mini-skirts/mini-shorts
• Tank tops
• Flip flops or heels over 4"

Ride-Along Procedure:

All applicants, including individuals personally known to the officer, shall fill out a Police Ride-Along Application and sign a waiver before a ride-along is initiated. If the rider is a juvenile, a parent or guardian must also sign the waiver.

No ride-alongs may carry a weapon (including knives, OC spray, etc.) unless he/she is a sworn law enforcement officer with jurisdiction within the State of Oregon. Such officers will not act as an agent of the Department and will have no law enforcement responsibilities during the ride-along, will dress in civilian clothes, and will carry the weapon concealed.

Ride-alongs may accompany officers only into areas open for public access, unless a person with standing grants consent.

Either the hosting officer or a supervisor may terminate the ride-along at any time if it detracts from or jeopardizes the safety of the officer or the law enforcement mission.

An officer will provide a safety briefing before the ride-along begins, including the following:

• Must wear a seatbelt at all times while inside the vehicle
• Must remain in the vehicle at all times, unless instructed by the hosting officer to do otherwise
• Must follow all instructions given by the officer
• Procedures in case of an emergency, to include use of radio to summon assistance

To apply for a ride-along, please download the Ride-Along Application and Waiver forms, fill in the required information, sign and return to Newport Police Department.

Ride_Along_Application (pdf file)

For further information please call during business hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, 541-574-3348.