Ride Along

In an effort to offer citizens an opportunity to observe the day-to-day duties of a law enforcement officer, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office offers a Ride Along Program with our Uniform Patrol Division.

Those interested will be required to complete a Ride Along Program Application which is available at the Sheriff's Office Front Desk located at 3601 N. 156^th Street. A routine background check will be performed on applicants by a patrol supervisor and may disqualify those with a questionable criminal history. Applicants must be at least sixteen years of age, and those under the age of eighteen will need parental or guardian consent.

Citizens are generally limited to one four-hour ride along per calendar year. Following completion and approval of a Ride Along Program Application, a patrol supervisor will contact you to make arrangements for a date and time to ride.

The following information is intended to answer some of the questions about the program.

Ride along Program Dress and Grooming Standards

1. Shirts- Sports shirts, dress shirts and pull over sport shirts are acceptable. These may be long or short sleeved. Garments such as T-shirts, body shirts, sweat shirts and muscle shirts are not acceptable.

2. Pants- Dress slacks and dress jeans that are in good taste are acceptable. Blue jeans torn or spotted are not acceptable. Cut off jeans and shorts are not acceptable. Dresses are not acceptable.

3. Shoes- Most type of footwear is acceptable. Sandals are not acceptable. Shoes must be in good condition and clean. Socks will be worn at all times.

4. Accessories- Necklaces, earrings and purses are not acceptable for male riders. Earrings worn by females must be small, no dangling or loop type earrings. A small compact can be taken by the females but no purses.

5. Belts will be worn, if appropriate.

6. All riders will wear appropriate apparel.

*If you are not dressed appropriately, you will be sent home..

Ride along Program Rules and Regulations

1. All persons riding as an observer with a Deputy during tour of duty must execute a 'request for approval to ride in a Douglas County Sheriff unit' which must be approved and signed by a patrol supervisor. This may be done prior to or at the time the person is to ride.

2. Any rider who is a member of the opposite sex of the participating deputy must be approved by the on-duty Captain.

3. No person under the age of 18 will be permitted to ride as an observer in a marked unit at any time unless prior approval has been granted by the Chief Deputy or Sheriff.

4. The number of times an observer may ride will be left in the discretion of the on duty Captain.

5. Authorized riders are at all times, to conduct themselves with proper decorum. They are to refrain from:

1. Use of alcoholic beverages prior to or during tours of duty.

2. Use of profane or abusive language.

3. Use of excessive conversation, which may distract the Deputy or interfere with his/her hearing of the radio.

4. Making remarks or voicing opinions to complainants, witnesses, victims, violators, or suspects in any manner, which would tend to provoke or degrade anyone or escalate tension.

5. Make known to any unauthorized person, information that may compromise a police operation, procedure, or investigation that is either in progress or proposed.

6. Making known to unauthorized persons the identity of persons arrested, persons being confined to jail, or suspects in a criminal act.

7. Using information learned for personal gain.

8. Wearing on their clothing any article, sign or symbol, that advertises any product.

6. Authorized riders are to:

1. Remain in the patrol unit during routine traffic stops unless otherwise directed by a Deputy.

2. Remain in or near the patrol unit during disturbances calls and calls of a serious nature in order to summon assistance by radio if needed, unless otherwise directed by a Deputy.

7. Non-sworn riders are not empowered to carry weapons, do not have any powers of a Law Enforcement officer, and have no authority except when acting at the direction of the officer.

8. Authorized riders are to dress neatly and conservatively at all times. Conservative type shoes or boots may be worn, but not barefoot sandals. Hair must be well groomed. Cleanliness is required at all times.

9. It will be the responsibility of each Deputy to note the personal appearance of each participant when he/she reports to ride. If he/she does not meet the dress and grooming requirements, he/she will be so advised by the Deputy and will not be permitted to ride until he/she has complied with the rules.

10. Riders should appear at the scheduled time of Roll Call. If the rider arrives after the assigned officer has gone on the street, the rider must schedule the riding period to another date.

Ride along Program Release, Indemnity Agreement and Covenant Not to Sue

Citizens wishing to participate in the 'Ride-Along' program must sign and agree to the following:

I/We desire the participant to obtain information relative to the operation of the Douglas County Sheriff Office by being a passenger in a Douglas County Sheriff's Office vehicle as a part of the Douglas County Sheriff Office's "Ride-Along" Program. I/We fully understand that by participating in this Program, the participant may expose themselves to conditions and situations of a hazardous nature.

For and in consideration of being permitted to participate in the Douglas County Sheriff Office's "Ride-Along" Program the sufficiency of this consideration being hereby acknowledged. I/We do hereby covenant and undertake with my/our heirs, guardians, executors and administrators, to forever refrain and desist from instituting or asserting against Douglas County or the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, its authorized agents, representatives, or personnel, any claim, demand, action or suit of whatever kind or nature, either directly, or indirectly, for injuries or damages to person or property which may result from participation in the Douglas County Sheriff Office's "Ride-Along" Program.

It is understood and agreed that as against Douglas County, or the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and its authorized agents, representatives, or personnel, this agreement may be pleaded as a counterclaim or as a defense in bar or abatement to any action of any kind whatsoever brought, instituted, or taken by or on behalf of myself/ourselves on account of any supposed claim or claims against Douglas County or the Douglas County Sheriff's Office or its authorized agents, representatives, or personnel.

I/We do hereby expressly stipulate and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Douglas County and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and its authorized agents, representatives, or personnel against any loss, including costs and fees on account of any action which may be brought against them by me/us or any person in my/our behalf for the purpose of enforcing any claim for damages arising out of participation in the "Ride-Along" Program.

I/We further expressly understand and agree that the participant will: (1) Abide by the orders of the Deputy's whom the participant accompanies; (2) Refrain from interfering with the Deputy's while in the pursuance of their official duties as Deputy Sheriffs; (3) Refrain from participating with the Deputy Sheriffs while in the pursuance of their official duties as Deputy Sheriffs; (4) Refrain from placing themselves in a position which might endanger the lives and safety of Deputy Sheriffs, themselves, or other persons.

I/We further agree to protect and save harmless Douglas County, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, its agents, representatives, or personnel from any loss, damage, or expense on account of claims, liabilities, damages or injuries which may be sustained by any person or property arising directly or indirectly from any of my/our actions.

Applications for the ride along program can be obtained at the front desk of the Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Center located at 3601 N. 156^th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.

For additional questions, contact Uniform Patrol Division at 402-444-3554.