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warrrreagl · 10-16-2006, 08:54 AM

Grancey and I are enrolled in our local police department’s Citizen’s Police Academy, and it is an absolute blast! We’ve gotten to do simulated traffic stops (Grancey was “shot” by the driver who had a pistol between his legs, but I saw the gun when it was my turn), we investigated a “murder” at a video store, and we passed around tons of weapons seized from drug busts. In case y’all didn’t know this already, the drug folks don’t play – that was some serious military hardware we passed around.

Last Thursday night, I did a ride-along with a patrol officer from 10PM until 2AM and it was incredible! I highly recommend this for anyone who has even the slightest interest in such a thing. I was not allowed to get out of the patrol car, but I could listen to the officer over the broadcast audio that he was wearing (they video and audio tape all of their stops). These are some of my highlights:

Two traffic stops - both for license plate violations. The first one yielded a citation for a crack pipe and the second one yielded multiple citations for open containers.

Fender-bender - older guy hit parked car and was good enough to stay and call the police.

Domestic disturbance

Suspicious person at a convenience store - five different units responded (including us) and there were cops swarming all over the parking lot with shotguns. After that, he explained they have a new lieutenant on night duty, and the "bad guys" play hit and run with them to see how they'll respond with a new guy on board, so they respond to calls like that with overkill as a show of strength. After that, we spent a lot of time cruising through all the parking lots of every open convenience store in our sector.

Back-up to a traffic stop that started as possible DUI and ended with an exciting three-cop takedown of a beligerent suspect with drugs in his pocket. While they were talking to him, he kept putting his hands in his pockets and they kept telling him not to. After the third time, they attempted to cuff him and the struggle began. Eventually, they got him on the ground and cuffed him - he had pot and crack in his pocket.

The officer spent TONS of time filling out reports during his shift, and he would park in a visible, high-traffic area in order to fill out the report. To passing cars, it looked like he was checking for speeding, but he was actually just maintaining high visibility in the sector. The vast majority of his entire shift was spent filling out paperwork.

He also drove EVERYWHERE as completely fast as humanly possible and it was an E-Ticket ride everywhere we went. I had a blast. Grancey has to go this week or next week.

Have any of the rest of you done a ride-along, and how did it go?

10-16-2006, 08:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
warrrreagl pinche vato Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton	Citizen's Police Academy Grancey and I are enrolled in our local police department’s Citizen’s Police Academy, and it is an absolute blast! We’ve gotten to do simulated traffic stops (Grancey was “shot” by the driver who had a pistol between his legs, but I saw the gun when it was my turn), we investigated a “murder” at a video store, and we passed around tons of weapons seized from drug busts. In case y’all didn’t know this already, the drug folks don’t play – that was some serious military hardware we passed around. Last Thursday night, I did a ride-along with a patrol officer from 10PM until 2AM and it was incredible! I highly recommend this for anyone who has even the slightest interest in such a thing. I was not allowed to get out of the patrol car, but I could listen to the officer over the broadcast audio that he was wearing (they video and audio tape all of their stops). These are some of my highlights: Two traffic stops - both for license plate violations. The first one yielded a citation for a crack pipe and the second one yielded multiple citations for open containers. Fender-bender - older guy hit parked car and was good enough to stay and call the police. Domestic disturbance Suspicious person at a convenience store - five different units responded (including us) and there were cops swarming all over the parking lot with shotguns. After that, he explained they have a new lieutenant on night duty, and the "bad guys" play hit and run with them to see how they'll respond with a new guy on board, so they respond to calls like that with overkill as a show of strength. After that, we spent a lot of time cruising through all the parking lots of every open convenience store in our sector. Back-up to a traffic stop that started as possible DUI and ended with an exciting three-cop takedown of a beligerent suspect with drugs in his pocket. While they were talking to him, he kept putting his hands in his pockets and they kept telling him not to. After the third time, they attempted to cuff him and the struggle began. Eventually, they got him on the ground and cuffed him - he had pot and crack in his pocket. The officer spent TONS of time filling out reports during his shift, and he would park in a visible, high-traffic area in order to fill out the report. To passing cars, it looked like he was checking for speeding, but he was actually just maintaining high visibility in the sector. The vast majority of his entire shift was spent filling out paperwork. He also drove EVERYWHERE as completely fast as humanly possible and it was an E-Ticket ride everywhere we went. I had a blast. Grancey has to go this week or next week. Have any of the rest of you done a ride-along, and how did it go? __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed.