SCSO Ride Along Program

The Sheriff's Office encourages community interest and involvement in the law enforcement process and allows citizens to ride as observers in Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles. Persons wishing to ride as observers must follow the protocol established below to ensure their safety, and the safety of our deputies. Observers must be at least 18 years of age to participate (with the exception of Youth Deputies).

If you are interested in riding as an observer, please submit an application online using the link provided here. After submitting the Ride-Along Application with a notarized FDLE Background Waiver, the application will be process by Human Resources. A background check will be conducted to include fingerprinting. Human Resources will reach out to schedule the fingerprint appointment.

When the prospective participant comes in for fingerprinting, they will be asked to present their valid Florida Driver's License or other appropriate picture identification to verify identity. After background processing, prospective participant will then be emailed instructions to complete a Security Awareness course because of the CJI (Criminal Justice Information) you will be exposed to while in the vehicle with the Deputy. This course can be completed from any computer. Once the course is completed and the prospective participant is approved, Human Resources will forward the participant's contact information to the East, South, or North Region offices to schedule their Ride-Along.

Please note that observers are under the supervision of the employees with whom they ride. They are not allowed to: assist with criminal interrogations or physical confrontations; exit the vehicle except upon specific instructions; or possess a firearm or other weapon.