Community

Our Ride Along Program is temporarily limited to those who are in the application process for Police Officer or Community Service Officer.

Take the opportunity to observe the Santa Cruz Police Department at work first-hand. The "Ride-Along" program will allow you to hear and see exactly how situations are handled and to give you better insight to evaluate the quality of your police department personnel.

• Through active citizen participation, the SCPD's goal of better communications between the community and police officers can be achieved
• We hope that your experience will help you share any new information and ideas with your neighbors and friends.
• The SCPD appreciates your interest in the "Ride-Along" Program and encourages your participation as a "Ride-Along" participant.

Participant's Conduct

Participants must remain in the immediate vicinity of the patrol vehicle and must not accompany an officer outside of that area unless specifically directed by the officer. Participants must not touch or attempt to operate equipment or use any communication equipment without explicit authorization from the officer. No audio or video recording or photography is allowed during the ride-along.

Participants might observe occurrences or activities during the ride-along which may require them to submit a written statement and/or testify in court at a later time.

Dress Code

Participants must be appropriately attired and groomed. Business casual would be a good guideline but jeans are allowed. Approval to ride along may be denied if the participant is not properly dressed or has been drinking. Firearms or other weapons are not permitted.

Accident Waiver

Each participant will be advised, in writing, that there is some degree of risk involved by reason of the nature of law enforcement activity. The participant assumes any and all risks to which he or she may be exposed during the ride-along.

Ride Along Schedule

Ride-along participants may be scheduled on one of the following shifts:

• 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• 4:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
• 10 p.m. - 8 a.m. (minimum age for this shift is 18)

Minimum participant age is 14. Participants are limited to one ride per year. A typical ride-along with an officer is two hours.

To schedule a ride-along with an officer, send an email to timartin@santacruzca.gov including your completed Ride Along Application and a copy of your valid Driver's License, or print out the form(PDF, 233KB) and a copy of your valid Driver's License and mail it to the SCPD.

Volunteer with the Santa Cruz Police Department!

The SCPD Volunteers program enables community members to support the Santa Cruz Police Department in public safety and crime prevention. 

Volunteers engage in various activities, including patrols, security checks, welfare checks for the elderly, vacation home security, assistance at events, community outreach, front desk coverage, and vehicle cleaning. They distribute important information but do not carry weapons or make arrests.

The program aims to establish a partnership between trained volunteers and the police, allowing volunteers to utilize their skills and free up officers for higher-priority tasks. Assignments are based on individual skills and departmental needs.

 What We Do

• Security checks in neighborhoods
• Welfare checks on the elderly (YANA)
• Conducting vacation home security checks
• Working at special events
• Providing security for city events
• Downtown, neighborhood, wharf and park patrols
• Vehicle cleaning
• SCPD front desk coverage

Qualifications required:

• Minimum 18 years of age; pass a background check.
• Time commitment: Minimum 10 hours per month on average. 
• Must be capable of walking for 2 hours on level surfaces, with a sit-down brake(s), during a 3-hour shift.

Are you interested in joining the Santa Cruz Police Volunteer Program?
Email scpdvolunteers@santacruzca.gov or call (831) 420-5916.

Being alone and isolated is one of the greatest fears of older adults. The Santa Cruz Police Department ‘You Are Not Alone’ (YANA) program is a free service that allows older and disabled adults to have comfort and security in the knowledge that someone is checking in on them on a regular basis.

YANA is a free service coordinated by Santa Cruz Police Department Volunteers who make regular contact with YANA participants both by phone and with home visits. The mission of the program is to promote peace of mind and security for the City of Santa Cruz’s older adults living alone and their families. YANA is an excellent resource for seniors who enjoy living independently, but do not have friends or family available to regularly check in on them. Please note we do not provide medical assistance, but rather a measure of security with our visits.

How It Works

• Telephone calls and home visits by police department volunteers are made at prearranged times.
• If the participant does not answer the phone call or answer the door at the prearranged time, family, friends and neighbors are contacted.
• If the participant does not answer after several attempts at contact, a series of steps follow to ensure the participant's safety and well being.

YANA Benefits

• Provide peace of mind and sense of comfort and confidence for city's homebound seniors or disabled citizens who enjoy the independence of living alone.
• Isolated people are at higher risk for exploitation from perpetrators who target older adults and those who lack social support. By staying connected to the community, participants can reduce the chance of being victimized.
• Isolation can cause individuals to develop hoarding like behavior due to fear of running out of necessary items. Hoarding can lead to unsanitary and unhealthy living conditions. YANA volunteers can help reduce the feeling of isolation.

To qualify for the program you must be a resident of the City of Santa Cruz. Seniors sign up to become a YANA participant by completing a registration form. Registration forms must contain emergency contact information and have the original signature of the participant. Unsigned forms cannot be accepted. Participation is free with the only requirement being that participants be able to answer the phone and provide at least one emergency contact. Return completed applications to Santa Cruz Police Dept. ATTN: YANA 155 Center Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060

For assistance in completing the registration form or to request more information, contact the YANA program, call (831) 420-5916 or email You Are Not Alone. YANA referrals can also be made via phone or email by friends or family members in the City of Santa Cruz that know someone who would benefit from this program.

Call (831) 420-5916 or email us at scpdvolunteers@santacruzca.gov!

Download an Application(PDF, 236KB)

About the Citizen's Police Academy

The Santa Cruz Police Department’s popular Citizen Police Academy offers city residents an inside look at aspects of law enforcement most have never seen, in a series of free lectures, demonstrations and discussions.

Participants meet one evening a week (Wednesday or Thursday) for 10 weeks in the Santa Cruz Police Department Community Room to learn and discuss how the police department operates, the requirements and duties of officers in various departments and how law enforcement works with various judicial departments. There are guest speakers as well. Each session is facilitated by an expert in their field and participants are encouraged to ask questions for an engaging evening.

The Citizen's Police Academy is designed to teach citizens about the philosophy, policies and guiding principles of law enforcement.

Students will receive classroom instruction by SCPD personnel and outside agencies. The following is a list of presentations and demonstrations that will be offered:

• Investigations Bureau
• Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office
• Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team (SCCACT)
• K-9
• Firearms Team
• Traffic Division
• Emergency Service Unit
• De-escalation and Use of Force
• Mental Health Liaison
• Victim Advocate

Plus many more!

Spanish Speakers Citizen's Police Academy Is Back!

Dates: April 23rd to June 11, 2024

Hours: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM one day a week, either Tuesday.

1. If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, please download the following application.
2. Complete it in the software "Adobe".
3. Once completed, click the "Email Document" button to email it to Lt. Jones

Please contact Lieutenant Carter Jones at 831-420-5992 with specific questions.
cjones@santacruzca.gov

Citizen's Police Academy Application(PDF, 144KB)