View Full Version : Ridealong Attire
Going on my first ridealong. Any suggestions on what to wear? Tentatively, I'll be riding with an officer on C watch. I was thinking just some dockers and a dress shirt would be OK; I'd like to hear from someone with some experience, though. Thanks.
MasTiempo
07-16-2006, 05:51 PM
Going on my first ridealong. Any suggestions on what to wear? Tentatively, I'll be riding with an officer on C watch. I was thinking just some dockers and a dress shirt would be OK; I'd like to hear from someone with some experience, though. Thanks.
The recruiters have always told me dockers and a polo. When I went a few years back with a friend, I had black BDUs and a nice shirt. Most recently, I stuck with the dockers and a 5.11 polo (all of my polos have a logo of some sort).
sweetdancer
07-16-2006, 06:17 PM
I just wore khaki's and a nice black polo shirt. For guy or girl, that outfit seems to be best for ride alongs. Good luck on yours, it was a lot of fun.
Your Mentor
07-16-2006, 06:22 PM
Very good call SD. In fact, khakis and a dark blue polo shirt is the standard utility uniform of FBI agents and is considered our in-service attire when taking post-Academy classes.
Don't forget a jacket -- even in the summer, the side of a freeway can get chilly.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
DW: The chilliest it's been in my neck of the woods lately has been about 80 degrees :smile:
Thanks for the advice everyone.
DW: The chilliest it's been in my neck of the woods lately has been about 80 degrees :smile:
Alrighty then... Reason number 42 why I don't live in the valley. ;)
uoplax13
07-16-2006, 08:58 PM
Guess I better dress a little nicer next time. I've done all my ride alongs with a friend who's an officer, and he's just told me to wear jeans and a t-shirt, and to bring a sweatshirt when it gets cold.......I guessing dressing nice would show a little more class on my part....not to mention the Sheriff's Deputy that mistook me for a suspect......
undertow999
07-17-2006, 02:27 AM
I when I went on my RA I wore khakis and a white collared shirt. I brought a jacket, which really came in handy at night. If you search for ride alongs on this forum, there are tons of ride along DOES and DONTS
chippette
07-17-2006, 07:34 PM
When I was an explorer I wore khakis and a nice shirt whenever I rode with other departments. So I would say it would be smart to wear that. Just remember you are there to observe only and you should be fine. Remember to have fun and don't be affraid to ask questions.
Just don't make the same mistake some people do - show up for your ride-along wearing "cop sunglasses", black uniform boots, a basketweave belt with all kinds of accoutrements on it, your scanner in hand and a windbreaker resembling a raid jacket. You'll get a "major wannabe" tag in a big hurry! Something like Dockers and a polo or dress shirt will be more than fine....you don't have to overdress for it, but don't show up looking like a slob, either.
Like Chippette said - have fun, pay attention, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
...show up for your ride-along wearing "cop sunglasses", black uniform boots, a basketweave belt with all kinds of accoutrements on it...
:lol: Dang, I guess I'll leave my Batman utility belt at home then. LOL.
By cop sunglasses, do you mean the pilot's ray bans that somehow seem to always have a reflection of snow capped mountains in them?
By cop sunglasses, do you mean the pilot's ray bans that somehow seem to always have a reflection of snow capped mountains in them?
Yep - them's the ones! :smile: Basically, you just want to avoid coming off as if you're trying hard to look like a cop.
Processing
07-18-2006, 09:24 AM
i always did my rides with friends of mine, mostly on graves, so my attire may not have been the most recommended. i wore jeans and a tucked in polo. i'm glad i did, cause there were plenty of times i was kneeling on pavement or walking through brush, over gaurdrails, etc!! i wouldn't have wanted to ruin a nice pair of dockers!!!
chippette
07-18-2006, 03:43 PM
Most definatly do not wear anything that will make you look like a cop. I can not express enough that you have to pay attention at all times because things can happen pretty quickly. One more thing mind the radio. What I mean by that is don't make the mistake of talking over the radio listen to what is going on. Talking over that radio and not knowing when to be quiet is one of the things that officers have said annoys them the most when they take ride-alongs. Oh and listen to everything the officer tells you to do even if it makes no sense because they have a reason for asking you to do what they ask you to do. I miss ride-alongs I have to say that was one of the best perks to being an Explorer I got to go on all the ride-alongs I wanted to in any office I wanted to. If you have any more questiona about ride-alongs just ask me I have been on a few.
davesdiesel2005
07-24-2006, 06:10 AM
I am going on my first ride-along this week. I have Tattoos that I would need a Long Sleeve shirt to cover. Would it be recommended for me to wear a long sleeve shirt? I think it would be, but would I be able to wear a Polo instead?
ExplorerSGT
07-24-2006, 07:11 AM
haha well i went on a ride a long with LASD compton and i wore blk bdu's and a grey polo with my vest under it and the desk officer told me i look too much like a cop and that i needed to take my vest off!..haha yea!,no vest in compton?..thank you but no thanks.
haha well i went on a ride a long with LASD compton and i wore blk bdu's and a grey polo with my vest under it and the desk officer told me i look too much like a cop and that i needed to take my vest off!..haha yea!,no vest in compton?..thank you but no thanks.
Okaaaayyyyy.....
Kevin
07-24-2006, 08:11 PM
haha well i went on a ride a long with LASD compton and i wore blk bdu's and a grey polo with my vest under it and the desk officer told me i look too much like a cop and that i needed to take my vest off!..haha yea!,no vest in compton?..thank you but no thanks.
You forgot your gun.
BTW.. what in the world is an Explorer Sgt.??? :rolleyes:
chippette
07-27-2006, 09:08 AM
haha well i went on a ride a long with LASD compton and i wore blk bdu's and a grey polo with my vest under it and the desk officer told me i look too much like a cop and that i needed to take my vest off!..haha yea!,no vest in compton?..thank you but no thanks.
You forgot your gun.
BTW.. what in the world is an Explorer Sgt.??? :rolleyes:
An Explorer sergeant is an Explorer sergeant. The name speaks for itself really. Have you ever heard of law enforcement Explorers? I feel you Explorer SGT no vest in compton thats suicide. I know in my office the Explorers are not allowed to go on ride-alongs without a vest on.
Melvin Eugene Punymeier
07-27-2006, 10:18 AM
I went on a ride along at the LASD's Compton station with a good friend of mine.
I wore a polo shirt and khaki pants. No vest. I'm proud to say I beat the odds and somehow made it out alive.
Come on guys... Compton isn't a place I'd choose to live, but you've probably got a better chance of getting killed driving to and from work than you do getting shot while on a ride along. It's hardly "suicide" to go without a vest.
SB 405
07-27-2006, 10:32 AM
I went a a ride a long with the Fire Department once and they had me sign a waiver saying if I fell off the Engine and got run over (in so many words) the County could not be held liable. Does the CHP have people sign something similar?
23109
07-27-2006, 10:48 AM
I went a a ride a long with the Fire Department once and they had me sign a waiver saying if I fell off the Engine and got run over (in so many words) the County could not be held liable. Does the CHP have people sign something similar?
Yes.
not5150
07-27-2006, 11:02 AM
haha well i went on a ride a long with LASD compton and i wore blk bdu's and a grey polo with my vest under it and the desk officer told me i look too much like a cop and that i needed to take my vest off!..haha yea!,no vest in compton?..thank you but no thanks.
I've always worn my vest during ride-alongs, but I think black BDUs is pushing it.
LASD Compton?? You do mean LASD Century station right?
Processing
07-27-2006, 11:17 AM
I went a a ride a long with the Fire Department once and they had me sign a waiver saying if I fell off the Engine and got run over (in so many words) the County could not be held liable. Does the CHP have people sign something similar?
yeah. you have to sign prior to going out on the ride. i think it said something like...
"going on a ride-along in compton without a vest is suicide. if you get shot, we're not liable. sign here"
snowdog
07-27-2006, 02:06 PM
I went on a ride along at the LASD's Compton station with a good friend of mine.
I wore a polo shirt and khaki pants. No vest. I'm proud to say I beat the odds and somehow made it out alive.
Come on guys... Compton isn't a place I'd choose to live, but you've probably got a better chance of getting killed driving to and from work than you do getting shot while on a ride along. It's hardly "suicide" to go without a vest.
Suicide,, no.
Stupid,,, yes
No matter where you take a ride-along. Compton or Beverly Hills.
Melvin Eugene Punymeier
07-27-2006, 02:20 PM
Suicide,, no.
Stupid,,, yes
No matter where you take a ride-along. Compton or Beverly Hills.
I asked about it before I went. My deputy buddy told me that most civilian ride a longs don't wear a vest, and that it's generally frowned upon by other deputies. He told me I could wear one if I felt it was absolutely necessary, but he basically told me not to. So I took his advice.
not5150
07-27-2006, 04:42 PM
I asked about it before I went. My deputy buddy told me that most civilian ride a longs don't wear a vest, and that it's generally frowned upon by other deputies. He told me I could wear one if I felt it was absolutely necessary, but he basically told me not to. So I took his advice.
Frowns don't kill people, bullets do.
chippette
07-28-2006, 11:43 AM
You know what I will not go on a ride-along without my vest on. You never know what is going to happen so it is always best to prepare for the worst. Plus at my old Explorer post it was frowned upon if you did not have a vest on. They even have extra vests available for the civilian ride-alongs.
pp48n
07-31-2006, 06:21 AM
Ok, stupid question or perhaps not. I searched the forums but got tired 20 pages in. Footwear for the ridealong? I would imagine boots would be proper, but then again I don't want to be too "buffy". Also they (my current workboots) are relatively new and have a pretty good shine (preservation), again don't want to be too buffy. Any thoughts? If not boots, shoes? Thanks
not5150
07-31-2006, 07:35 AM
Ok, stupid question or perhaps not. I searched the forums but got tired 20 pages in. Footwear for the ridealong? I would imagine boots would be proper, but then again I don't want to be too "buffy". Also they (my current workboots) are relatively new and have a pretty good shine (preservation), again don't want to be too buffy. Any thoughts? If not boots, shoes? Thanks
Boots would be OK.. but you can't go wrong with clean, comfortable tennis/running shoes.
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