Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Ayanna Pompey
Have you ever thought about sitting in a police vehicle? There may be a free opportunity at your local department?
I am honored to be a part of the criminal justice major. Part of the major requires a ride along with a police department. The ride along happens during a police shift which gives a hands-on experience on the job to gain insight into the force. The program allows students/citizens to engage in protocol training and ask questions about the system.
The ride along also allows citizens to remove any stigmas placed on officers by participating in certain activities that they endure daily. Police officers have an enormous responsibility of protecting and enforcing laws throughout the community. Police men and women lay their lives on the line for citizens continuously. Officers have a difficult time in today’s society with the help of social media playing a role in police brutality.
Participating in the ride along helps citizens recreate the stigma and hopefully recruit new members. The ride requires any volunteers over the age of eighteen to undergo a background check before boarding the department. The program is free of charge and helps provide citizens with a visual look of their community and the people in it. Become a part of the community by assisting your time in volunteering and internships to help build a resume and add value to the community.
This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
