Prior to my ride-along with the Greenville Police Department (GPD), my knowledge of law enforcement essentially started and stopped with shows like Live PD and COPS. Cue the Bad Boys theme music.
But last month, I followed Master Patrol Officer (MPO) Rachel Hall, a Community Outreach Officer with GPD, for part of her shift. During my ride-along I had the chance to learn more about how Greenville’s police department works + what a typical day looks like for a local officer.
Here’s a quick look at what I learned + how you can participate:
Sign me up:
Signing up for a ride-along is fairly simple. There are some requirements – you have to be 18+, you must live, work, or go to school within the city limits, and you can’t participate if you’re pending arrest or conviction for any offense (which, you know, would make sense). If you’re interested, you can find the full list of requirements here + find the application here.
How does it work:
Once you’re approved and you’ve scheduled a date, you’ll arrive at the Law Enforcement Center + meet with your assigned officer. They’ll walk you through a waiver explaining the risks of participating in a ride-along, answer any questions you have, and then you’ll head out to your whip for the day.
The officer you’re assigned to will go through their day just like they would any normal shift.
While on duty, officers are assigned to specific zones (the city is broken into four + the Central Business District). Every day, there are goals, issues + priorities identified in each zone that are communicated by the zone lieutenant or sergeant during a muster. When officers are on patrol, they’ll respond to calls that come in + also work to address their zone’s assignments. Calls can range from a car accident to an armed robbery, so officers have to be prepared to respond to anything.
In addition to these responsibilities, officers are always keeping a close eye on their surroundings. They’re ready to handle crime at any given moment but they’re also actively looking for ways to engage with and support the public. Prime example: MPO Hall told me about a day where she managed to help a woman who had lost her pet rabbit.
Over the course of the day, you’ll learn how calls come in, see the types of situations police officers encounter, and learn how they work to prevent crime + promote safety in the community.
What you’re really wondering – “Did you see anything crazy?”
Short answer, not really. And I’m thankful for it. The morning of my ride-along was considered relatively slow. MPO Hall assisted another officer with a traffic stop. We also responded to a home that had been found with the door open (what appeared to be a potential burglary). MPO Hall and the other officer “cleared the house” – which is exactly what it sounds like. They teamed up to sweep every room in the house and make sure no one was there. Which was plenty of excitement for me.
The main takeaway is this: ride-alongs are unpredictable. Your assigned officer will respond to calls the same way they would if you weren’t in the car – so there’s no way to guarantee what your specific ride-along experience will be.
Is it for you:
GPD’s ride-along program is a great opportunity for anyone living, working, or going to school in the city of Greenville to learn more about local law enforcement. Whether you’re considering a career in law enforcement or you just want a behind-the-scenes look at how the local police department works, it’s a unique and eye-opening experience.
“What do you hope participants take away from the experience?”
After my ride-along, I asked MPO Hall what they hope to achieve by offering ride-alongs to the public. “Our goal is to allow our community members to gain insight into daily operations for the police department and get a feel for what it’s like to be a police officer. We also hope it will perpetuate ongoing communication between GPD and members of the community.”
Mission accomplished. I’d like to thank the Greenville Police Department for allowing me the opportunity to participate in a ride-along.
If you have any questions about my experience or any questions for the Greenville Police Department, let us know using the prompt below.
