Jan 2, 2008 7:05 pm US/Central
How Safe Are Police Ride-Alongs?
(WCCO)
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WCCO-TV and other media outlets are commonly allowed to do ride-alongs with officers and deputies.
CBS
The Ramsey County
sheriff's deputy ride-along which ended in the death of a deputy's wife
prompted questions about the practice.
We found
each individual law enforcement agency sets its own policy when it comes to
family members and others riding on the job with officers.
WCCO-TV and
other media outlets are commonly allowed to do ride-alongs with officers and
deputies.
There are a
wide range of procedures out there and some don't allow it at all.
"I've
had my wife along with me on ride-alongs, my children, members of the media a
wide number of people. It's common practice in the law enforcement community,"
said State Patrol Lt. Mark Peterson.
However,
many departments have different rules.
The Hennepin
County Sheriff's Office won't allow family members to ride with relatives, only
other deputies. The same applies with St. Paul Police.
"You
don't want a family member to see an officer in danger and the family member
could be a distraction to an officer," said St. Paul Police Spokesman Tom
Walsh.
Other law enforcement
agencies like Ramsey county, Bloomington and Minneapolis police have
more liberal policies.
"If
adults are going to ride along wives, girlfriends, friends, family members, we
do have them sign a waiver prior to go on any ride along," said
Minneapolis Police Sgt. Jesse Garcia.
We found
that's a routine requirement with all ride-alongs across the board to protect
agencies from law suits in the event of injury or death.
We're told
Margaret Lopez, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Deputy's wife who died, did sign a
waiver.
"This
is a horrible incident and a freakish one," said Walsh.
And while
the potential for harm to those riding along is always a possibility, many say:
"It's
pretty rare. I don't know any incidents off hand that have happened," said
Garcia.
In fact,
many in law enforcement encourage ride alongs to give loved ones and the
general public an eye opening look at what officers face every day.
"In
this particular one with the Ramsey county sheriff ... it wasn't something
that stemmed from him going to a call work related" said xxx. "this
was purely an accident, if it wasn't his car it would have been somebody elses."
There are
also age restrictions on ride-alongs.
No
law enforcement agency WCCO-TV talked to allow children under 16. Some require
they be at least 18, and at the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, it's 21.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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