Ride-Along Program

Ride-Along Program / Citizen Observer Guidelines

The Chief's Office encourages community interest and involvement in the law enforcement process and allows reputable citizens and student interns to ride as passenger observers in a Niceville Police Department vehicle for legitimate civic or educational purposes.

How to Request a Ride-Along

• You must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to ride.
• Complete the forms that are attached below that include the demographics page, Release and Indemnity Agreement. and Security Awareness Acknowledgement. 
• Once your request has been received by a Division Commander, a criminal history check will be conducted, including the National Crime Information Center, Florida Crime Information Center and all local arrest files. (Requests by persons with criminal histories will be evaluated by the Division Commander and will be denied when there is reason to believe that approval of the request would not be in the best interest of the public or the Police Department.) The Division Commander will respond to your request via telephone.
• Walk-In citizens who wish to participate in the Ride-Along program must obtain permission from the on-duty Shift Commander and complete all necessary paperwork prior to entering a Police Department vehicle.
• You may participate in the program once a quarter unless otherwise approved by the Chief of Police.

Once Approved to Ride-Along

• You must sign a Release and Indemnity Agreement form that is supplied at the police department or online using the link below.
• The Division/Shift Commander will review the signed form prior to your entering a Police Department vehicle.
• The Release and Indemnity Agreement shall specifically state the time period during which the observer will accompany an officer. If an extension is requested, and approved by the Chief, a second Release and Indemnity Agreement Form shall be completed. Exceptional situations shall be addressed, as deemed appropriate by the Division Commander. 
• Your request to ride, a copy of the approval/disapproval letter, and the original Release and Indemnity Agreement Form shall become part of your file and maintained within the Division screening the request.
• Wear business-like apparel. (Casual clothing such as mini-skirts, halter tops, sun dresses, shorts, T-shirts, or denim jeans will not be permitted.)
• You will be required to wear a Citizen Observer Identification badge, attached to your clothing in a visible location. (The officer you ride with will request one for you from the on-duty Communications Officer, and turn it back in at the end of the shift.)
• Police Department non-sworn personnel who participate in the program shall wear their Police Department Office Employee Identification badge.
• If you wish to ride with a particular officer, you may ask the Shift Commander to allow you to do so. However, the officer must not be on probation, must have a good performance rating, and cannot be related to or dating you.
• If you do not request a specific officer to ride with, the Shift Commander should attempt to assign you to a Field Training Officer in available.

When Riding With The Officer

• You will be under direct supervision of the Officer you are riding with.
• You will be prohibited from assisting in criminal interrogations, chasing fleeing subjects, or physical confrontations involving arrests.
• You will not exit the vehicle except upon specific instructions of the officer with whom you are riding. 

Please click the link below to complete all necessary paperwork.

Ride Along Request / Release and Indemnity Agreement