"Can we play with the siren?"...

For an inside look at a day (or night) in the life of a police officer,  come ride along with the officers of the Greenville Police Department.

The Citizen Observer Program has been in place for over 20 years and is designed to allow cititzens a chance see what it is like "behind the scenes," so to speak.  This ride-along program should provide you with valuable insight into the line operations of the Greenville Police Department.  It will be informative and enjoyable.

Participants in this ride-along program will be assigned to ride with a patrol officer on a wide variety of calls for service.  Most ride-alongs last for about 4-5 hours.  You will have a chance to see what goes on each day or night in your city, and how the officers of the Greenville Police Department are working to keep our community safe.

If you are interested in going on a ride-along,  just contact the Greenville Police Department  at 329-4315,  or come by an complete an application form.  Sorry, but criminals need not apply.  A background check will be conducted on you, just to make sure you are one of the good guys, and once approved, you will be informed when you can ride.

We ask that you come neatly dressed.  No jeans allowed.  You cannot bring your camera or tape recorder, and you will have to sign a release. 

The officers you ride with will be happy to discuss their duties and responsibilities, and just about anything else you want to talk about.  And, while every effort will be made to provide for your safety, the police officer's first responsibility will be to carry out their assigned duties. You will be required to sign a liability waiver.  Remember, law enforcement can inolve danger and serious risks.   You will not be permitted to leave the patrol car at the scene of any police calls.  As they say at Busch-Gardens, "Keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times."

If you want to see what policing on the streets is really all about, come ride with us.