Police Department : Town of Hartford

Citizen Ride-Along Program

Are you curious what it is like to be a police officer? Do you want to get a closer look at what is going on in your community? Are you interested in a career in law enforcement? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, apply to go on a ride along with a Hartford police officer.

Hartford Police Department’s Ride-Along program is available to provide an inside look at what officers do on a daily basis.

Guidelines for Participation

Any person eighteen (18) years or older meeting the criteria listed below is eligible to participate in the program:

• A resident of Hartford, VT; or a

  • Visiting law enforcement officer, applicant for employment with, or an employee of the Hartford Police Department;

  • Relative of an active or retired Hartford Police Department employee;

  • Professional or college student in the field of Criminal Justice, Law, or the Social Sciences;

  • Member of an accredited news agency; or

  • Governmental Official or an employee of the Town of Hartford.

Participation in this program is limited to one every six (6) months unless otherwise approved by the Chief of Police or his designee.

All Ride-Along applicants must provide, prior to approval and at the commencement of the Ride-Along, a valid form of photo identification. 

A brief background check will be conducted on the applicant prior to approval.

Participants are prohibited from carrying or possessing weapons of any kind.

A Ride-Along is limited to a four (4) hour block of time.

Participation Instructions

Review this PDF Instruction Document about the program.

Citizens wishing to apply for consideration must fill out the Citizen Ride-Along Request and Waiver Form [PDF].