Ride-Along Program

The purpose of the HPD Ride-Along Program

• To promote and improve mutual understanding of police and community problems;
• To improve the image of the police in the community and develop an awareness of the respect for law and order;
• To develop enthusiasm for a career in law enforcement.

Who is eligible to participate?

• Visiting law enforcement officials.
• Government officials as related to their official duties.
• College students as arranged for classroom credit programs.
• Civilian employees of the Honolulu Police Department.
• Certified Police Explorer Scouts
• Persons with an interest in a career in law enforcement as referred by school and career counselors.
• Families and friends of police officers to ride with that particular officer.
• Members of the news media.
• Others at the discretion of the commander of the Community Affairs Section or the district patrol commander.

Adult ride-along requirements

• Must be 18 year of age or older.
• Each ride must be authorized by the Community Affairs Section commander or a designee, or by the district patrol commander.
• Adult must fill out the Adult Waiver - Authorization/Medical/Injury form and have it approved.
• The Permit to Ride/Emergency Information form must be in the participant's possession at all times during the ride.

Youth ride-along requirements

• Must be age 12 through 17 to participate.
• The parent(s) or guardian(s) of interested youths must sign the Parental Consent - Authorization/Medical/Injury form and have the signature witnessed by a police officer.
• The Permit to Ride (Minors)/Emergency Information form must be approved and signed.

Limitations and responsibilities

• All participants are limited to one ride per calendar year.
• Hours of operation are normally 6 PM to 10PM. Rides are limited to 4 hours.
• Male riders ride with male officers and females with female officers
• Riders will make arrangements with the district at least two days in advance of the desired ride-along date.
• Must be properly attired and wearing shoes (no slippers).

Request Procedures

Each individual requesting to ride along is required to read and sign the instructions for participants form prior to the ride. You can print the ride along forms, complete it, and bring it with you, along with a picture identification card (i.e. drivers license or law enforcement identification card) when you come to the police station. These completed forms are required before a ride-along can be approved.  A background check will be conducted. Each ride must be authorized by the Community Affairs Division commander or a designee.

Forms

• Honolulu Police Department Police Ride-Along Program 
  HPD-233B (R-03/10)
  
  
• Honolulu Police Department Adult Waiver (18 years and older) 
  HPD-385 (R-6/04)
  
  
• Parental Consent For Minors To Participate In Police-Youth Ride-Along Program
  (12 to 17 years old)  HPD-233 (R-6/04)

All forms are required to be filled out prior to a ride-along.  A routine background check is conducted for all participants in the ride-along program. 

To help speed up the process, the forms may be printed and filled out.  The completed forms, a long with a copy of a picture identification card (i.e. Drivers license or law enforcement identification card) may be mailed to: 

Honolulu Police Department
Community Affairs Division
801 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI  96813