600-32 Ride Along Program

Question 1

Only the _______ may approve participants in the Ride-Along Program, with the exception of ________.

Answer 1

host division captain, Air Support ride-alongs

Question 2

All ride-along approvals shall be made on a _______.

Answer 2

case-by-case basis

Question 3

If host officer participation is limited, requests shall be prioritized in the following order:

Answer 3

1. Individuals with a mission specific need.
2. . Employees who need the experience to better perform their job function within the department (e.g., emergency communications personnel).
3. Criminal justice students and potential police recruits.
4. Citizens or volunteers involved with criminal justice activities such as the Positive Interaction Program (PIP), Houston Citizens’ Police Academy, Police and Clergy Alliance, Independent Police Oversight Board, or Grand Jury, as well as members of the media.
5. All other requests.

Question 4

To participate in the Ride-Along Program, guests must _________and ___________.

Answer 4

meet all program criteria, complete all pertinent forms

Question 5

Officers (host or participant) and civilian employees participating in the Ride-Along Program shall:

Answer 5

not have any pending or sustained disciplinary actions classified as category B or higher within the last three years.

Question 6

No person less than ______ of age shall participate in the program.

Answer 6

16 years

Question 7

Permission to ride in a Houston Police Department helicopter or other aircraft shall not be granted to persons less than ______ of age.

Answer 7

18 years

Question 8

Each citizen ride-along guest shall be issued a

Answer 8

Citizen Observer card.

Question 9

Guests who are approved for ride-alongs in an HPD helicopter or other aircraft are not required

Answer 9

to display a Citizen Observer card.

Question 10

Guests who are approved for ride-alongs in an HPD helicopter or other aircraft are

Answer 10

not required to display a Citizen Observer card.

Question 11

The host officer is responsible for:

Answer 11

Obtaining a Citizen Observer card for the guest before the ride.

Returning the card to the host captain after the ride is completed.

A card that is lost or damaged during the ride. The card shall be handled as if it were an official police identification card (see General Order 400-02, Badges and Credentials).

Question 12

All persons requesting to participate in the Ride-Along Program as guests shall be

Answer 12

checked through NCIC, TCIC, SETCIC, and local records for criminal and warrant history.

Question 13

Citizens who are 16 years of age shall be checked by the _________.

Answer 13

Juvenile Division

Question 14

Persons having a final conviction of a __________shall not be allowed to participate in the program.

Answer 14

Class B misdemeanor or higher offense

Question 15

All ride-alongs shall originate and end at the host officer’s police station. No other location shall be accepted unless approved by

Answer 15

the host captain.

Question 16

Citizens and off-duty civilians participating in the Ride-Along Program shall complete ___________. Only _______ and ______are exempt from filling out this form.

Answer 16

Houston Police Department Authorization to Participate in the Ride-Along Program and Release of Liability; Houston police officers, on-duty civilians

Question 17

The liability form shall be completed by the guest and notarized at least _____ prior to the scheduled ride-along.

Answer 17

48 hours

Question 18

If the participant is less than 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must

Answer 18

also participate in the ride-along.

Question 19

The parent or legal guardian must complete both:

Answer 19

The parent or guardian portion of the guest’s liability form.

AND

A separate liability form for themselves, signed, notarized, and authorized as stated above.

Question 20

The liability form shall be distributed in the following manner:

Answer 20

The original form shall be maintained by the division hosting the ride.

A copy of the completed form shall be sent to the department’s Planning office for statistical analysis.

A copy of the completed form shall be provided to the guest.

Question 21

The following persons may apply to participate in the Ride-Along Program on an annual basis by completing the Houston Police Department Annual Authorization to Participate in the Ride-Along Program and Release of Liability

Answer 21

Police and Clergy Alliance (PACA) members

Independent Police Oversight Board (IPOB) members

Other persons as authorized by the Chief of Police

If approved, the executive assistant chief of Field Operations shall sign the form. The form shall be valid for one year from the date the form is approved and must be renewed annually

Question 22

The annual liability form shall be distributed in the following manner:

Answer 22

The original form shall be maintained by Field Operations.

A copy of the completed form shall be sent to the department’s Planning office for statistical analysis.

A copy of the completed form shall be provided to the guest.

The guest shall provide a copy of the completed form to each police station at which the participant performs a ride along. These forms shall be maintained by each division hosting the ride-along.

PACA ride-along participants shall deliver a copy of the completed form to the Clergy Liaison Unit in Public Affairs.

IPOB ride-along participants shall deliver a copy of the completed form to the department’s liaison for the Independent Police Oversight Board.

Question 23

Officer participation in the Ride-Along Program is _______.

Answer 23

voluntary

Question 24

To participate in the program as hosts, officers must have at least _______ seniority.

Answer 24

two years

Question 25

Officers with a ride-along guest on board shall notify the dispatcher they are a host unit when they sign on duty. They shall also indicate what _____ is riding with them.

Answer 25

type of guest

Question 26

Host officers shall not

Answer 26

volunteer for an overtime assignement unless an emergency exists.

Question 27

Host officers shall not

Answer 27

exchange ride along guests during their shift. Guests shall remain with their host officer for the length of the ride-along assignment

Question 28

Houston police officers who want to ride as guests shall make arrangements with and obtain the authorization of both ____ and the _______.

Answer 28

their captain, host division captain

Question 29

Any Houston police officers authorized to ride as guests while on duty shall be considered on _______.

Answer 29

temporary assignment.

Question 30

Ride-along guests who are honorably retired police officers or active or retired judges shall complete the _______. During a ride-along, these participants may _________ except as restricted by section 12, Air Support Ride-Alongs,

Answer 30

liability form; carry a weapon

Question 31

The approval of the ___________ is required for officers from other agencies to participate in the Ride-Along Program.

Answer 31

host division captain

Question 32

Guests who are certified, full-time police officers from other agencies shall complete the ______.

Answer 32

liability form. Such participants shall be considered citizens and are subject to the guidelines and restrictions outlined in this General Order.

Question 33

If these officers (guest officers) are prohibited from carrying a weapon by state or federal law or the officers do not wish to carry a weapon, they shall not_____ during the ride-along.

Answer 33

wear their uniform

Question 34

When an officer from another agency wants to participate in the Ride-Along Program, the host captain shall ensure a courtesy call is made to that officer's supervisor to obtain both of the following:

Answer 34

Verbal permission from the officer's supervisor to participate in the program. Verbal confirmation that the officer does not have any serious pending or sustained disciplinary actions.

Question 35

Civilian employees who are directed to participate in the Ride-Along Program for the benefit of the department (e.g., improvement of job performance) shall be

Answer 35

considered on duty and on temporary assignment. They shall follow the same instructions listed for Houston police officers in section 5 of this General Order.

Question 36

Civilian employees who volunteer to participate in the Ride-Along Program shall be

Answer 36

considered off duty and shall not be compensated or entitled to workers' compensation benefits for the ride-along. Off-duty civilians shall not wear their assigned uniform, but shall dress according to section 1, subsection "Citizen Attire" of this General Order.

Question 37

Ride-along guests may be used to fulfill various duties as determined by the host officer. These duties may include:

Answer 37

Traffic or crowd control (if the ride-along participant is in a uniform). Radio operation. Motorist assistance. Gathering information or completing routine paperwork that shall not be used in any court action. Protection of a crime scene (if the ridealong participant is in a uniform). Acting as an interpreter. Being listed as a witness to an offense.

Question 38

Unless an unavoidable emergency exists, civilian and citizen ride-along guests shall not be allowed to:

Answer 38

Conduct criminal or witness interrogations or interviews. Participate in an arrest or be left in charge of a prisoner. Accompany an officer inside any structure where a suspect may still be hiding. Leave the police vehicle unless otherwise directed by an officer. Assist at a crime scene except as specifically directed by an officer. Sign any report (e.g., arrest, incident, crash), traffic citation, or other legal document. Provide cover or back-up. Drive any City of Houston vehicle. Ride with any Vice, Narcotics, or Criminal Intelligence personnel. Ride in the prisoner compartment with a prisoner being transported in a vehicle. Receive any information concerning the timing or details of a warrant execution. Utilize an audio/visual recording device unless authorized by the host officer or another section of this General Order

Question 39

Officers shall deny ride-along participants access to ______ or ______ inappropriate for their age

Answer 39

scenes, situations

Question 40

In the event of a high-risk call, the host officer shall leave a civilian or citizen guest at the

Answer 40

nearest police facility

Question 41

If the incident warrants an immediate response, the host officer shall leave the guest at the first ______ and _____ location.

Answer 41

convenient, safe

Question 42

If the guest is released, the host officer shall promptly notify _______ of the situation.

Answer 42

the dispatcher

Question 43

If a high-risk situation is unavoidable, the guest shall

Answer 43

remain in the police vehicle until police personnel advise the situation is safe.

Question 44

If a host unit initiates a pursuit, the dispatcher shall

Answer 44

immediately assign a replacement unit. When that unit arrives, the host unit shall turn off its emergency equipment and fall back to a safe and prudent position.

Question 45

The host unit shall not assume the position of _________.

Answer 45

secondary unit even if a secondary unit is unavailable.

Question 46

Authorization for members of the media to participate in any aspect of the Ride-Along Program may be granted by only the ______ and must be ________.

Answer 46

Chief of Police, coordinated through Public Affairs.

Question 47

In order to participate in the Ride-Along Program, members of the media shall complete the ______and the ________ available on the department's Intranet Portal.

Answer 47

liability form, Media Notification form

Question 48

Persons presenting credentials identifying themselves as members of the_____ are permitted to utilize audio/visual recording devices during any authorized ride-along.

Answer 48

media

Question 49

Unless ______ by the host division, all ride-along participants are allowed to utilize audio/visual recording devices during helicopter or other ______ ride alongs.

Answer 49

otherwise restricted, air support

Question 50

_________shall be allowed in any HPD helicopter or other aircraft for any reason.

Answer 50

No CEO or incendiary or spark-emitting device

Question 51

The captain of the HPD Air Support Division may authorize helicopter or other air support ride-a longs requested for any of the following:

Answer 51

Classified or civilian employees with a mission specific need. Other law enforcement agency officers with a mission specific need.

Question 52

Additional written authorization is required from the assistant chief over the Air Support Division when the ride-along is requested for any of the following persons:

Answer 52

Classified or civilian employees without a mission specific need. Other law enforcement agency personnel without a mission specific need. Citizens.