Civilian Observer / Police Ride Along

Florence Police welcomes and invites approved citizens and community members to see first-hand what a Florence Police Officer does during their daily tour. Come and see how the men and women of Florence PD serve their community by completing the attached form and ride along with Florence’s Finest!

 

Appearance: As a citizen observer riding with uniformed personnel in a Florence Police Department vehicle, members of the public may assume the civilian observer is in some way affiliated with the department. As such, all citizen observers are required to wear, at minimum, business casual attire (i.e., dress slacks, dress shirt, polo shirt, dress shoes, etc.). Citizen observers must not exhibit an appearance that is detrimental to the image of the Florence Police Department. Failure to conform to these appearance guidelines will result in the cancellation of the ride-along.

 

Requirements: Citizens that do not complete and sign the “CITIZEN OBSERVER REQUEST/WAIVER OF LIABILITY” will not be authorized to take part in the Citizen Observer Program. This form shall be maintained by the Florence Police Department.

  • Citizens who are on criminal probation or parole will not be permitted to ride with an officer.
  • Unless the citizen observer is a certified Arizona peace officer and has permission from the Chief of Police or Patrol Operations Lieutenant, no civilian observer may carry any type of weapon.
  • Citizen observers are not allowed to participate in the Citizen Observer Program no more than two (2) times during a calendar year and no more than once in a calendar month. In addition, a citizen cannot participate in the program for more than one complete patrol shift (10 hrs).
  • The citizen observer will not become involved in any police action at any time, unless the Observer is a current Arizona certified peace officer and immediate action is deemed necessary to assist the host officer. Once additional Florence officers have arrived on scene, the Observer will assume the role of an observer only.
  • Citizen observers are not permitted to make any recordings, visual or audio, while participating in the Citizen Observer Program, unless prior permission has been obtained from the Chief of Police or Patrol Operations Lieutenant.
  • Citizen observer will not be permitted to use cellular phones without the permission of the host officer.
  • Host officers may request a supervisor terminate a ride-along due to the citizen observer’s willful noncompliance with rules and regulations. Any supervisor, at his/her discretion, may cause or permit the termination of the ride-along at any time at the request of either the host officer or the citizen observer.
  • Citizen observers are permitted to enter a residence/business only when directed by the host officer.